KSRTC and HSRTC place major orders
Tata Motors has announced that it has received an order for 487 buses from Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and for 780 buses from the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) for Tata Marcopolo built buses as per “Urban Bus Specifications” under the JNNURM – II scheme. These orders are part of the over 2,700 orders for ‘URBAN’ buses received by the company.
The ‘URBAN’ buses from Tata Motors with a smart new front fascia have been designed for safety, comfort and convenience for passengers and better operating efficiency for State transport authorities. These buses are fitted with CCT cameras that can record each and every movement inside the bus. Wider passage-way for free movement and wider window panes for better visibility, along with lower entry/exit doors, make these new buses safe and convenient for commuters to enjoy public transportation.
Tata URBAN buses incorporate Intelligence Transport Systems (ITS) for public information through GPS via electronic destination display boards, indicating the expected time of arrival at bus stops, route announcements within the bus, etc. Further, bucket-type seats, softer suspension, tubeless tyres and lower noise, vibration & harshness (NVH) ensure that passengers feel most comfortable.
These buses also enhance the operational efficiency for STUs as these are compatible to hook up with a central control room server, through which an operator monitors the performance of each bus in terms of the number of trips, off-road position, adherence to pre-scheduled maintenance by monitoring real-time health of the bus through on-board diagnostics (OBD). Through this feature operators can also moderate and redesign the frequency of buses on every route.
New generation ISBe Cummins fuel-efficient engines in the Tata ‘URBAN’, with new 6-speed overdrive gear box and cable shift mechanism for effortless gear shifts, ensures adequate pick-up and power while ferrying passengers. A large number of Tata ‘URBAN’ buses being fit with automatic transmission ensures greater on-road performance for a smooth jerk-free ride.
Said Mr. Ravi Pisharody, Executive Director, Commercial Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors: “With these orders, Tata Motors reinforces its position as a leading partner to State transportation corporations, in providing them with the right product and service solutions, enabling them to create and maintain a sustainable public transportation system. Balancing affordability for passengers, along with a world-class ‘Metro’ like experience and long-term economic viability is a need of every transport undertaking, and we at Tata Motors are committed to that need. We will shortly commence delivery of our ‘URBAN’ buses.”
Mr. Pisharody added: “These buses are manufactured at the Tata Marcopolo Motors Ltd. (TMML) world-class facility in Dharwad and Lucknow, with state-of-the-art technologies and expertise in systems for bodybuilding and bus body design, conforming to international standards in quality and safety as well as ‘roll-over tests’ as mandated by the Urban Development Ministry. With over 60,000 Marcopolo buses plying across the length and breadth of the country, these buses are also marketed in all Tata Motors focused markets globally.”
Tata Motors will impart training to drivers of the STU’s/operators on handling the new ‘URBAN’ buses, including general service and maintenance. The company is committed to support these buses by leveraging its large network of over 1,800 authorized service set-ups, all of which are geared to provide best-in-class service support, over the life cycle of these buses. At strategic locations, the set-ups for the maintenance and repair of these new generation bus bodies have been upgraded.