The low chassis, rear-engine buses would be on a trial run for three to six months. BMTC is in the process of phasing out and replacing over 1,000 buses by the close of the financial year. Based on the performance of the Tata buses and the feedback from users, BMTC, with a large fleet of Volvo city buses, will be placing more orders.
“The Marcopolos deployed in Bangalore are low-floor, A/C buses specially designed for city roads. They can seat 35 and have features like air curtains that do not allow heat loss when the bus stops. There is a ramp for the handicapped and a wheelchair-lock inside. There are three destination boards – two outside and one inside – along with a recorded announcement of bus stops. The door has a security mechanism that makes it pull back when a person is entering or exiting,’’ said Lusier Grochot, CEO of Tata Marcopolo Motors.
Tata Marcopolo Motors Ltd. has two plants in India. The first plant is at Lucknow, which is currently operational. The buses supplied to DTC in Delhi and to Bangalore have been manufactured at the Lucknow plant. The second plant, which is the largest facility, is coming up in Dharwad in Karnataka. The Dharwad plant, set up at an investment of Rs. 325 crores, has an annual capacity of 30,000 vehicles. The plant is expected to produce about 2,000 buses in the current financial year. The Dharwad plant is expected to commence production very soon. The Dharwad manufacturing plant will integrate all other plants across India and will have a capacity of 100 buses per day.
Tata Motors had announced formation of a 51:49 joint venture company with Marcopolo to build buses for domestic market as well as for export to Africa and the Far East. The joint venture will produce a variety of buses including 16-54 seater standard buses, 18-seater and 45-seater luxury buses, luxury coaches, and low-floor city buses. The JV will also explore emerging opportunities in Bus Rapid Transit System.
