Asian Xpress is one of the emerging reliable and sustainable bus fleet operator from Karnataka. It is all about an entrepreneur’s passion about buses, which made him to step into the world of bus fleet operator business. MOTORINDIA spoke to Mr. M. Ashwin, Proprietor, Asian Xpress, at its head office situated at Madiwala in the heart of Bengaluru.
Explaining in detail how he started his business, Mr. Ashwin said: “I am passionate about buses from childhood. As I grew, I continued this passion and graduated with a mechanical engineering degree. I decided to step into the bus fleet operator business in 2015. I basically stay in Mysore, but my family roots are in Tiruchengodu in Tamil Nadu wherein commercial vehicle business was a family tradition for most of the people there. With the same mindset and my passion for buses, I decided to pursue my higher education and further did my internship at Toyota, Bengaluru. With time, I developed a trust and passion for Volvo Buses. I founded Asian Xpress in 2015 and in December the same year, the company booked its first bus – a Volvo B9R I-Shift multiaxle”.
Driven with enthusiasm, Mr. Ashwin decided to undergo driver training at the Volvo driving training centre at Hoskote, Bengaluru.
Mr. Ashwin added: “I was the only MD of a bus fleet operator company in the batch of driver trainees. People felt odd, but I was happy to join the training program as I was anxious to know more about the vehicle before I start my fleet operations.”
The driver training not only helped him to learn about the technical aspects of the Volvo Bus, but it taught him the duty and responsibility of being a driver of the coach.
With a home-based commercial vehicle business at roots and an entrepreneur mind, Mr. Ashwin started his first schedule of Asian Xpress in February 2016 on the Bengaluru-Chennai route, with only a single Volvo B9R I-Shift multiaxle semi-sleeper coach. The coach featured a beautiful dazzling graphics on its body and was soon the talk of the town. With prompt and dedicated service, Asian Xpress started expanding its fleet of Volvo B9R coaches on its Chennai route, from Bengaluru. The company has recently added new 2+1 AC sleeper coaches with individual led on each berth, to its fleet, for comfortable and luxurious travelling experience of its passengers.
The company values its operations as topmost priority to spread its goodwill amongst travellers and passengers. Asian Xpress has dedicated staff in Bengaluru and Chennai to monitor the operations of its buses. Quality inspectors are assigned the daily job of monitoring the bus in terms of maintenance of cleanliness and hygiene. “In addition, I like to self-inspect the buses myself, so that I can be satisfied with their maintenance. Regarding sleeper coaches, I always make sure the berths are clean. We have outsourced cleaning and washing of bedsheets and blankets. Now we are planning to have our own washing unit for dry cleaning”, added the MD.
Expressing his views on bus body codes, Mr. Ashwin stressed the safety of passengers as the prime priority of the company. “We maintain the driver complaint sheet so that the technical problems can be attended to promptly. Regarding Volvo buses, the console error codes, if shown, are noted and consulted with Volvo technicians from Volvo India, keeping in view of maintaining streamline bus schedules on route”.
Speaking on the future fleet expansion, the MD showed his trust in Volvo buses as his priority choice. He appreciated Volvo India’s dedicated and prompt customer service for bus fleet operators. Asian Xpress inducts highly experienced and efficient drivers on its routes. Instructions are given to the bus crews to behave well with passengers.
The MD further stated that he prefers a direct interaction with passengers on the routes for feedback and suggestions. The company has provided dedicated helpline mobile numbers for bookings, suggestions, complaints, if any, and for addressing queries related to boarding points of departures. “I feel a direct talk with the passengers helps me to understand the feedback properly and work accordingly to provide better services on board my buses. I am now planning to introduce door pick-up for elderly citizens and for passengers with health problems”, observed Mr. Ashwin.
Expressing his views on planning a new route, he focussed on several factors like passenger demand and route feasibility which accounts for the decision making with respect to the same. The prime objective is maintenance of USPs of Asian Xpress, viz., vehicle upkeep, punctuality and cleanliness of the coach.
Generalizing the bus fleet operator business in Karnataka, Mr. Ashwin expressed his optimism of the healthy and competitive market, focussing exponential growth in business. He also focussed on the challenges in the bus industry like the taxation policy for fleet operators, and further stressed the need for streamlining measures to be undertaken on the account of the same.
He further highlighted the fact that the discussions on the taxation policy have been undertaken by associations like the Tamil Nadu Bus Owners Association (TNBOA), and the same needs to be highlighted in other States too by the respective governing bodies for the revival of a proper taxation policy throughout India.
Asked about his views on the constitution of BOCI, Mr. Ashwin expressed his gratitude to the governing body and predicted that the Council will act as an umbrella organization for all the private bus fleet operators in India, which will propel the process of addressing the core issues and problems faced by the bus industry, pan-India.
Commenting on the upcoming event of BOCI – “Prawaas 2017” – to be held in Mumbai in July, Mr. Ashwin observed: “Prawaas 2017 will prove to be a major event for not only bringing together all the private bus fleet operators across the country but will also provide a common platform to explore the opportunities of growth in public-private partnership in services. The event will also help to capture the emerging trends in the business of public transport and will enable B2B dialogue amongst the members of BOCI. I predict that Prawaas 2017 will prove to be a launch-pad to attract investments in the fleet operator business which will enable trigger growth within the bus industry”.
Mr. Ashwin termed sustainability in business as his prime motto, with a dedicated approach to connect people and places. “While following my passion, I am dedicated, on behalf of Asian Xpress, to provide quality services and comfortable coaches on road, with an emphasis on the need to ensure better bus services and efficient transportation”, concluded the MD on a positive note.