In an insightful interview with Rajesh Rajgor, Jagdish Swami, Director of Narmada Travels, sheds light on the crucial role of private bus operators in connecting the hinterlands with urban centers. Jagdish discusses the factors contributing to the success of Narmada Travels, including their flexible routes, high standards of maintenance, and commitment to passenger comfort. He also shares the company’s future plans, such as transitioning to electric buses and expanding their routes. This interview highlights how Narmada Travels sets itself apart from state-run services through innovation and customer-centric practices.
Private bus operators play a crucial role in the hinterlands, connecting remote areas with urban centers, facilitating the movement of people and goods, and significantly contributing to the local economy. One such pivotal operator is Narmada Travels, headquartered in Latur. This private bus operator is thriving due to a combination of factors that set it apart from state-run services.
In Latur, private bus operators like Narmada Travels have flourished due to their flexibility and responsiveness to local needs. Unlike the State Run Bus Services, which often follows rigid timetables, private operators offer flexible routes and schedules tailored to the community’s demands. Additionally, they prioritize comfort and amenities, providing air-conditioned buses with advanced features that attract more passengers. Efficient resource management allows them to maintain lower operating costs and pass the benefits to customers in the form of competitive fares. This approach has led to a higher demand for private bus services in Latur.
Ensuring Comfort and Safety on Every Route
Narmada Travels has its headquarters in Latur, a hub for education, a large grain market, and a newly established railway coach factory. The significant influx of students, parents, traders, and laborers from Maharashtra and other states drives the company’s route planning. “We decide our routes based on the high demand from students, parents, traders, and laborers coming here from Maharashtra and other states,” Jagdish explains. The company currently operates routes from Latur to Pune, Mumbai, Thane, Borivali, Sambhajinagar, Miraj, Sangli, Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur, Yavatmal, Vardha, Amravati, Nagpur, Ahmednagar, Shirdi, and Nashik. Plans are in place to expand further within Maharashtra and other states.
Customer satisfaction is paramount for Narmada Travels. The company maintains a rigorous daily maintenance schedule for its buses, employs experienced drivers, and ensures a safe and clean travel experience. Feedback from passengers is actively sought and addressed. For enhanced safety, especially for women, CCTV cameras are installed, and complaints are resolved promptly through an online portal. “We take utmost care of passengers on all routes to provide clean and safe journeys to specific destinations at specific times,” says the Director. The fleet includes Ashok Leyland and Volvo Eicher four-wheel suspension buses, designed for durability and safety. The buses are constructed with strong, fireproof materials, clear emergency routes, and fire extinguishing systems. Experienced drivers undergo regular medical check-ups to ensure passenger safety.
“We have all 38 buses like A/C sleeper, Non A.C. Semi Sleeper working in intercity services. We maintain the buses in our fleet as per the slogan of clean and safe journey at the specified time at the specified place,” says Jagdish. The company adheres to rigorous maintenance standards, ensuring a high level of cleanliness and safety for passengers. Every day, buses are meticulously cleaned both inside and out. Bed sheets, pillow covers, and seat covers are washed and replaced. Camphor and incense lights are lit along with air fresheners to maintain a pleasant environment. Blankets are changed weekly, and curtains bi-weekly. Four times a year, the entire bus undergoes a thorough vacuum cleaning for pest control, ensuring a hygienic travel experience. All buses of Narmada Travels are built at Karnataka Engineering Works Sahara Coach, ensuring high-quality manufacturing standards and robust performance. This partnership underscores Narmada Travels’ commitment to providing durable and efficient buses for their passengers.
Despite seasonal variations, Narmada Travels maintains a robust passenger occupancy rate, achieving 80% occupancy during off-peak seasons and 100% during peak seasons. To accommodate the surge in passenger traffic during rush hours, the company runs extra buses on congested routes. All new buses are equipped with air suspension and air conditioning to ensure passenger comfort. “All our buses are fully air suspension and air-conditioned to provide comfort to the passengers,” he notes.
Driving Excellence and Innovation
Looking to the future, Narmada Travels is considering the transition to electric buses to address pollution concerns and reduce diesel costs. “In the future, we can change our fleets into electrical buses due to pollution and costing of diesel,” says Jagdish. This forward-thinking approach highlights the company’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Financially, Narmada Travels has performed satisfactorily, continuously striving to improve profitability by maximizing passenger convenience and utilizing both their own and third-party online portals for easy booking. The company also minimizes maintenance costs by using express routes and purchasing spare parts in bulk. “We try to provide maximum convenience to passengers and use our own and other online portals to provide easy booking facilities,” Jagdish adds.
Narmada Travels has been recognized for its excellence in the industry, winning the Prawaas Excellence Awards in 2019 in Mumbai and the National Award in 2022 in Hyderabad. Additionally, they have received consecutive Certificates of Excellence from RedBus since 2021, the Silver Operator Award from Paytm for 2022-23, and the Sakal Idols of Maharashtra Award in 2022.
“RedBus is very well supported as a passenger booking platform for Narmada Travels and with good facilities,” highlights Jagdish. Narmada Travels continues to set the standard for private bus operators in the hinterlands, offering reliable, safe, and comfortable transportation to passengers across Maharashtra and beyond. By focusing on passenger needs, maintaining high standards of service, and continuously seeking ways to improve and innovate, Narmada Travels exemplifies the critical role private bus operators play in connecting and supporting the hinterlands.