Swedish luxury brand Volvo Bus India has secured an order for 122 premium luxury coaches under the Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative (LAccMI) Scheme, a flagship program initiated by the Government of Odisha’s Commerce & Transport (C&T) Department to provide rural connectivity through Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC).
The LAccMI Scheme aims to elevate the state’s public transportation infrastructure and provide citizens with a world-class public mobility experience. The Volvo 9600 Buses will connect major districts and business hubs to the state capital, Bhubaneswar and Jagannath Dham Puri and carry the name of Jagannath Express & Laxmi Express. Volvo 9600 multi-axle 15m coaches will come equipped with pushback luxury seater, semi-sleeper and sleeper configurations.
Vinod Aggarwal, MD and CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles said, “Over the past 25 years, Volvo Bus India has provided state-of-the-art, sustainable mobility solutions, and this order further solidifies our commitment to the citizens of Odisha.”
Diptesh Kumar Pattnayak, IPS, MD, OSRTC “The collaboration between Volvo Bus India and OSRTC for the deployment of premium buses is a testament to the shared vision of creating a modern, efficient, and sustainable public transportation network. This will have a long-lasting impact on government initiatives that aim to transform transportation infrastructure and contribute to the socio-economic development in rural and urban areas. This is one of the important measures taken by Govt. of Odisha for the protection and promotion of Jagannath culture in every village of Odisha.”
Suresh Chettiar, SVP, Bus India added, “The premium luxury coaches ordered under the LAccMI Scheme will not only enhance the public transportation system in Odisha but will also serve Indian and international tourists that visit this beautiful and historic state and devotees visiting Jagannath Dham, Puri. Volvo 9600 buses with Integrated bus body design are Made-in-India at the state-of-the-art Volvo Bus India facility at Hosakote, Bangalore.”
The Volvo 9600 platform comes with Volvo D8K (8-litre) engine, delivering a power of 260kW (350hp) @ 2200 RPM and a torque of 1350 Nm @ 1200-1600 RPM. The fuel-efficient engine along with its purpose-developed drivetrain is designed to minimise Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and maximise uptime for bus operators.
Volvo 9600 is claimed to be the only OEM factory-built sleeper coach that complies with AIS 119 standards, a first in the industry, and comes with a host of industry leading features.
The 122 Volvo 9600 coaches will come in three configurations – 55 pushback luxury seats, 51 semi-sleeper seats or 40 sleeper berths, to provide comfortable options for passengers. In terms of safety it comes with Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Electronic Disc Brakes supported by Electronic Braking System (EBS) & ABS as standard. The coach’s interiors are equipped with Fire Retardant (FR) grade materials, Fire Detection & Suppression System (FDSS) is provided for engine and FAPS in passenger area.
