Mohan Travels is a sister concern of the Ghatge Group of Companies, under the flagship of Ghatge Patil Transports Ltd. The company is ISO: 9001 – 2015 certified and is a pioneer in the luxury bus fleet operations in Maharashtra.
Mohan Travels, founded in 1972, started its first passenger schedule with a non-AC coach connecting Mumbai with Mangalore in Karnataka the same year.
Speaking to MOTORINDIA, Mrs. Nandini Ghatge, MD, Mohan Travels, said: “We started our operations with a 2×2 seater non-AC coach, and the end-to-end journey time was 23 – 24 hours, due to the road conditions. We had five dedicated buses in rotation for the two daily schedules.”
Since the start of its first passenger fleet service, there has been no looking back for Mohan Travels.
Mrs. Ghatge added: “As pioneers in the passenger service industry, we have been synonymous with our motto – Courtesy, Safety and Reliability. We have established our goodwill in the industry and have become a household name. Most of our customers have been travelling with us for many years, and we are proud of the faith they reposed in us.”
In 1995, Mohan Travels introduced the concept of sleeper coaches with a 1×1 configuration branded as ‘Snoozzer’. The service soon became popular with customers – an idea of being able to sleep comfortably and travel. The concept caught on very fast and the “Snoozer” became a very popular mode of travel.
Mohan Travels then started with the concept of ‘Cruizzer’ to travel comfortably in seater coaches. Soon customers learned to ‘Snoozze and Cruizze’, which have become the company’s registered trademark names. The company currently has a fleet of 40 buses, operating on 25 schedules across Maharashtra. The company recently included Mercedes Benz Super High Deck 15 m multi-axle coaches as a part of its premium bus fleet. These buses ply between Pune and Kolhapur daily, with three schedules. With its head office in Kolhapur, the operator has its branch offices in Mumbai, Borivali, Dombivali, Pune, Ratnagiri, Chiplun, Nagpur and Aurangabad.
Well-equipped infrastructure
Mohan Travels has premium facilities in its premises for fleet maintenance. It conducts preventive maintenance and running repairs regularly. Periodic checks and maintenance are also being conducted. The operator has its own set-up for fleet maintenance, body maintenance, air-conditioner repairs and suspension check-up. Spare assemblies are also kept ready for coaches for use in emergencies.
Asked about maintaining its network of offices in Maharashtra, she said: “We have branch offices spread across the State. Monthly meeting of branch managers at our Kolhapur headquarters help us to keep track of the activities and fleet-related issues.”
Mohan Travels is working hard on its operation-front under the guidance of its MD. Many streamlining measures have been undertaken in order to get sustainable results, which include tracking fuel cost, mandatory driver training, fuel efficiency, timely maintenance, use of genuine spareparts, and maintaining optimum average life of buses.
When queried about the criteria followed by the company for vehicle brand and product selection, the MD revealed: “We have always given emphasis on reliability, aftersales service and maintenance cost, availability of spare parts and passenger comfort level as the pre-requisites for brand selection. We want to sustain as a fleet operator devoted to providing good services, and I believe we have to be conscious regarding the brands that we choose to serve us.”
Mohan Travels has a good coverage pan-Maharashtra when it comes to connectivity. The company does detailed study of new routes before being included in its daily schedules. There is also a check on passenger frequency and flow in the new planned route. Hotel facilities are also checked for food / bio – breaks. Nearby garage accessibility, night time safety and 365 days operation affordability on the route are also kept in mind at the planning stage.
Priority for women and senior citizens
The company abides by its motto of courtesy, safety and reliability. It conducts bus crew training sessions for its drivers and conductors. Security for women is the prime priority and USP of the company which trains its crew especially for women passenger safety. It also makes travel for elders and senior citizens quite comfortable by taking care of them onboard.
The MD further stressed professionalism as the key to improve the standards of bus fleet operator services in Maharashtra. She also emphasised the need to form a central core association (for private bus fleets) in India, which can focus on the obstacles and problems faced and can thus carry forward the work in a much planned and strategic way, towards providing better overall services to the public.
Mrs. Ghatge also expressed her concern over passenger feedback and maintaining customer service network: “Mohan Travels is a growing operator and we do value passenger feedback and suggestions on call and mail. We have also trained our crew to meet medical situations onboard our buses. Passenger safety and well-being is always our priority and we remain committed to it.”
The company performs route checking of buses for unauthorised passengers. Periodic training of crew and meeting with the MD form a regular schedule in the company which is well focussed on sustainable growth, keeping pace with technology.
Mohan Travels has also provided mobile tabs to its crew of the new Mercedes Benz Super High Deck multi-axle coaches to facilitate en route booking and checking passenger information online. The tabs assist them to identify where each passenger needs to be picked up and dropped.
The fleet buses are equipped with GPS and are remotely monitored from company headquarters in Kolhapur. The company is continuously striving to improve and innovate. It has recently introduced its mobile app, ‘Gpt Mohan Travels’ which is available on Google Play and App Store. The ‘Track My Bus’ feature enables passengers and their families to keep a track of the bus in real time.
With a dedicated and devoted workforce, Mohan Travels remains committed by its motto to provide better services keeping passenger comfort and safety as its prime cynosure of development. To live up to its brand image, the company takes special efforts to ensure that its crew members, office and maintenance staff undergo rigorous training. It has a continuous programme to evaluate and improve its services.
As a fleet operator with the zeal of providing committed services, Mohan Travels remains dedicated towards sustainability in terms of its efforts.
Mohan Travels stats
* Founded in 1972
* Number of buses in fleet : 40
* Longest route operated at present : Kolhapur – Aurangabad and Aurangabad – Nagpur (500 km)
* Distance covered everyday : 10,000 km
* Passengers carried daily : 1200 – 1500
* Schedules per day : 25
* Workforce : 250