Tata Motors to supply 2,700 buses under JnNURM–II scheme

Tata Motors has won orders for more than 2,700 buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission-II (JnNURM), a city-modernisation scheme launched by the Indian government. The financial terms of the orders have not been disclosed.

Under the scheme, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation has awarded a Tata Motors an order for 487 buses while Himachal Road Transport Corporation has ordered 780. The Tata Group company will supply Tata Marcopolo built buses as per 'urban bus specifications' under the JNNURM–II scheme.

The company said it would commerce deliveries shortly.

"Balancing affordability for passengers, along with a world-class metro-like experience and long-term economic viability is a need of every transport undertaking and we at Tata Motors are committed to that need,'' said Ravi Pisharody, Executive Director, Commercial Vehicles Business Unit at Tata Motors.  

These buses are manufactured at Tata Marcopolo Motors Ltd's facility in Dharwad and Lucknow.

The 'Urban' buses from Tata Motors have been designed for safety, comfort and convenience for passengers and better operating efficiency for State Transport Authorities. These buses are fitted with CCTV cameras, wider window panes, lower exit doors and incorporate intelligent transport systems (ITS) for public information.

ITS through GPS via electronic destination display boards, indicating expected time of arrival at bus stops and route announcements within the bus among others.

These buses enhance the operational efficiency for state transport units as they are compatible to hook-up with a central control room server. Through this feature operators can also moderate and redesign the frequency of buses on every route.

Tata Motors will impart training to drivers of the STUs, it said in a statement.

Tata Motors is India's largest automobile company with consolidated revenues of Rs2,32,834 crore in 2013-14.