SRS Travels, known for its dedicated bus services, has launched its new fleet of Mercedes-Benz 15 m Super High Deck (SHD) 2436 coaches on the Bengaluru-Coimbatore and Bengaluru-Madurai routes from December. Four coaches have been delivered in the first batch, after SRS opted for Mercedes-Benz as one of the brands of choice for its fleet expansion.
Mr. K.T. Rajshekhar, Founder, SRS Travels, said: “To make inter-city travel comfortable and safe, this Mercedes Benz high-end coach was our preferred choice. Now, our passengers on the Bangalore-Coimbatore and Bangalore-Madurai routes can travel in luxury.”
Commenting on the order, Mr. Markus Villinger, Managing Director, Daimler Buses, stated: “The order from SRS Travel proves once again that the Daimler bus is a perfect fit for fleet owners’ requirements – luxury, fuel efficiency and reliability. Our product is built with superior features for safe and comfortable rides, and sets a new benchmark in ultra-luxury travel.”
Talking exclusively to MOTORINDIA at the induction ceremony, Mr. Chinmay, Vice President, Travels Section, SRS Travels, shared: “Mercedes-Benz is a reputed brand and, based on our evaluation of the coaches, we will keep our options open about the intake of more units for our future fleet expansion plans. We are keen on trying new products in the market, keeping in mind passenger luxury and comfort and have introduced the first four SHD coaches on the Bengaluru-Madurai (480 km) and Bengaluru-Coimbatore (360 km) routes. Based on our evaluation and on passenger feedback, we will be in a better position to decide our future plans as far as our venture with Daimler India is concerned.”
Sharing details on the product features that impressed SRS, Mr. Chinmay went on to say: “These new coaches come with a new driveline, and we wanted to evaluate them with our existing products. We have introduced them on shorter routes to evaluate their performance on road. Being the longest coach in the country, it ensures a higher number of seats and increased legroom. The front fascia of the coach shows Mercedes’ elegant craftsmanship and the exquisitely sculpted super-high deck and ski-jumper aluminique body with poly-urethane based paint make for an exceptional finish. The spacious 15 cu.m. luggage boot and its clear opening height of 0.9 m help take care of passengers’ travel needs while on the road.”
Asked about the recent implementation of the Bus Code, he expressed concerns about bus safety and passenger safety in our country, though he was optimistic that the Bus Code would improve the bus and coach building standards keeping in mind the safety of passengers on board. With reference to the new Mercedes coaches, he seemed satisfied with Daimler India’s adherence to safety norms make their products Bus Code-compliant.
When asked about SRS’ future plans, Mr. Chinmay said: “The secret of our success is our sincere and committed approach, anticipating passengers’ needs and working towards providing full satisfaction to our customers. As far as our strategy is concerned, we look forward to delivering the best service to our customers and most importantly provide good service support when we tie-up with major OEMs. We have always been a sustainable operator and have seen remarkable growth over the years, primarily owing to our policy of commitment, dedication and service. We look forward to maintaining the sustainable growth based on our core values and culture in the years to come.”