Volvo Buses India has secured an order for 200 Volvo 9600 coaches from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), marking the largest-ever order for Volvo buses in India and signalling a major push towards premium intercity public transportation in the state.
The order comprises 170 seater coaches and 30 sleeper coaches, which will be deployed across intercity and interstate routes, enhancing passenger comfort, safety and travel quality across Maharashtra’s state-run transport network.
The order marks a significant milestone in Volvo Buses India’s partnership with MSRTC and reflects the state transport corporation’s focus on modernising its fleet and improving the quality of public transportation.
The induction of the coaches is expected to bring Volvo’s emphasis on safety, ride quality and reliability to a wider range of passengers travelling on the state transport network.
Focus on premium passenger experience
VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd Executive Vice President – Bus Division, Suresh Chettiar, said the company appreciated the continued trust placed in Volvo buses by Maharashtra’s transport leadership and MSRTC.
“We are proud to continue to partner with MSRTC to enhance the state’s public transportation network,” he said, adding that the order reflected a shared commitment to making premium passenger experiences more accessible to Maharashtra’s citizens.
The order comes amid a broader focus on improving passenger comfort and safety in state-run transport services. The Volvo 9600 coaches are designed to meet MSRTC’s objective of establishing higher standards for intercity travel while offering a premium alternative within the public transport system.
Seater and sleeper configurations
Manufactured at Volvo Buses India’s facilities in Hoskote, Karnataka, the Volvo 9600 range combines the company’s global engineering capabilities with features designed for long-distance passenger travel.
The seater variant features a 51-seat configuration, with premium seats equipped with calf support. The sleeper variant is designed for overnight journeys, with a dedicated berth layout intended to improve passenger comfort on longer routes.
The two configurations will enable MSRTC to cater to different travel requirements across its network, including daytime intercity services and overnight journeys.
Volvo Buses India is part of VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd, a joint venture between the Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, which operates in India’s commercial vehicle market.
The 200-coach order represents a significant addition to Volvo’s presence in India’s premium bus segment and reinforces the role of higher-specification coaches in the modernisation of state-run passenger transport.