This facility will also produce the 200 ULE buses ordered by the State Transport Undertakings of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
“The buses we are building for DTC are globally benchmarked, definitely unique for the Indian roads, and DTC can be proud of ushering in a world class product for urban transportation in India,” said Mr. Rajive Saharia, Executive Director – Marketing, Ashok Leyland, at a media briefing.
The ULE buses, with a floor height of 390 mm, have a step-less entry. These 12 metre-long buses have an integral all-steel body, with 35-seats in 2×2 configuration. It will be powered by a 230 hp turbo-charged, inter-cooled engine and fitted with automatic transmission. The use of Multiplex wiring is a unique feature influenced by considerable electronics employed in the bus.
Safety, passenger ride comfort and convenience as well as easy driveability have been key considerations in the design and manufacture of the buses.
The bus is equipped with electro-pneumatically controlled doors with lock sensors so that it can be operated by the driver. The doors will not open when the bus is in motion. An anti-skid vinyl flooring with silicon impregnation, conveniently located grab bars, sleeved stanchions and a stop request buzzer are some of the other safety features. The bus is fitted with a speed limiting device and an efficient braking system.
Apart from the low floor and wide doors that afford easy entry and exit, passenger comfort and convenience are further addressed through air suspensions for jerk-free rides, complemented by modern, comfortable roto-moulded seats, air-condition and electronic destination boards. Equipped with laptop connections and a music system, the bus is also disabled-friendly.
The new production facilities are set across approximately 20,000 square metres in Ashok Leyland’s Alwar plant, which had spearheaded induction of CNG technology in Delhi buses, with a supply of over 3,500 CNG bus chassis till date. The bus building plant is equipped with ultra-modern machinery globally benchmarked.These include the cubic framing fixture, hydraulic automated paneling, conveyors for automation, body lifting mechanisms, paint booths and a shower testing facility.
