Tata Motors, one among the top 10 global truck and bus manufacturers, has announced completion of over 100 crore / 1 billion km with the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) in seven years, one of the largest CNG-powered bus service operators in the world. With 2,682 buses, including low and semi-floor A/C and non-A/C variants, Tata Motors DTC buses operate from 22 bus depots spread across New Delhi, ferrying over 30 lakh passengers and covering approximately 4.70 lakh km daily, with a fleet availability of 96 per cent, a world record in itself.
As the most popular means of public transport for intra-city travel, DTC buses have been catering to nearly 50 per cent of Delhi’s total commuter requirements, of which Tata Motors DTC buses have completed 100,71,27,708 km as of August 15, 2015. In 2007, the Delhi Government placed an order with Tata Motors to maintain 650 buses, winning another order to supply 2,032 buses to DTC.
Mr. Ravi Pisharody, Executive Director, Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors Ltd., said: “It is very gratifying to have competed over a billion DTC kilometers, a true testament to the durability and quality built into every Tata bus. This has been backed by our strong and dedicated team of employees, with excellent exposure in fleet management, delivering 24×7 services, ensuring bus services for commuters every day for the last 7 years. As a leading partner to State Transportation units, we at Tata Motors will continue to work with them in providing the right product and service solutions, enabling them to create and maintain a sustainable public transportation systems for SMART CITIES, with continuous improvements backed by technology. We would like to extend our gratitude to DTC and the commuters of Delhi, and look forward to completing many more such milestones in the years to come.”
Mr. C.R. Garg, Managing Director, Delhi Transport Corporation, said: “We at the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) have always worked towards developing an efficient public transport system for the city. The completion of 1 billion kilometers in seven years by Tata Motors buses operating under DTC is indeed a remarkable accomplishment, and we wish to extend our appreciation to the company on attaining this milestone. Tata Motors’ buses have served the citizens of New Delhi well, providing the city with a range of buses of superior quality, ensuring smooth and comfortable transit for all. DTC’s association with Tata Motors has been fruitful, and we hope to continue this partnership.”
Tata Motors is the country’s largest bus manufacturer with the most complete range of transit vehicles that meet day-to-day needs of commuters. The company has continued to be a leader in this segment not just by setting technological benchmarks but by adopting innovations effectively to suit Indian travel conditions. Tata Motors has also developed a wide variety of vehicles that cater to the entire gamut of buses, from luxury inter-city travel options to safe transport choices for school-going children.
Tata Motors’ fleet management services have been well appreciated. In order to provide a safe, reliable and tidy bus service, the company has a wide network of maintenance teams, comprising over 3,500 employees. Since 2007, these employees, year after year, have ensured availability of more than 96 per cent of Tata Motors bus fleet. Recently six DTC depots operated by Tata Motors were recognised among the top 10 depots in Delhi by its Chief Minister.
Various organizations source Tata Motors’ buses from DTC, for significant ceremonies such as Independence Day, Republic Day and Auto Expo. These buses were also used to ferry national and international athletes, media and dignitaries during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This year the buses were used during the visit of the US President, Mr. Barack Obama.
Tata Motors has also developed electric hybrid and articulated buses to meet the future transport needs for ‘Envisaged Smart Cities’ and has ambitious plans for Hybrid Buses in Parallel & Series mode. Series CNG hybrid buses are already in operation in Madrid, Spain, and have together covered more than four lakh km.
During the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Tata Motors introduced four new CNG-Electric hybrid buses, a result of the company advances in alternate fuel technologies, including electric vehicles. This was the first time in the history of the Indian automobile industry that hybrid buses were used for public transportation.
Besides its partnership with ACGL of Goa, Tata Motors also has a joint venture with Marcopolo S.A. of Brazil, one of the largest bus body manufacturers in the world, for fully-built bus (FBV) solutions, with greater average speeds, safety and comfort, for a ‘Metro like feel’. Tata Marcopolo’s approach of manufacturing FBVs meets the new norms for bus body building as per the Automotive Industry Standards in terms of safety, fuel efficiency and wider bus gangways, with the flexibility to be powered by both CNG and diesel.
With a whole range of coach designs, e.g., microbus, intercity and touring coach, Tata Motors is able to actively participate in the development and implementation of solutions for mass passenger transport in the world’s main markets.