Volvo Buses India Wins Biggest-Ever Order for 200 Volvo 9600 Coaches from MSRTC
Add CMV360 on GoogleVolvo Buses India wins an order for 200 Volvo 9600 coaches from MSRTC, including 170 seater and 30 sleeper buses, to upgrade Maharashtra's intercity transport network.
By Robin Kumar Attri
Key highlights
Volvo Buses India secures its largest-ever single order for 200 coaches.
The order includes 170 seater buses and 30 sleeper coaches.
All coaches will be manufactured at the Hoskote facility in Karnataka.
The Volvo 9600 seater variant offers 51 seats with calf support.
The fleet will support MSRTC's intercity and interstate transport services.
Volvo Buses India has secured an order for 200 Volvo 9600 coaches from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), marking the company's largest-ever single order. The deal is expected to strengthen the partnership between the two organisations and support Maharashtra's efforts to modernise its public transport network with premium intercity and interstate bus services.
Announced on Wednesday, the order comprises 170 seater coaches and 30 sleeper coaches. The new buses will serve long-distance routes connecting destinations within Maharashtra and other states, offering passengers improved comfort, safety and travel quality.
All 200 coaches will be manufactured at Volvo Buses India's Hoskote facility in Karnataka, near Bengaluru.
Volvo 9600 Bus Order to Improve Intercity and Interstate Travel
The latest order reflects MSRTC's focus on upgrading its fleet and improving passenger experiences across its public transport network. By introducing premium coaches, the corporation aims to raise service standards and provide passengers with more comfortable and reliable options for long-distance journeys.
The Volvo 9600 range combines international engineering expertise with features designed for intercity travel. Its seater and sleeper configurations allow MSRTC to cater to different passenger requirements, from daytime journeys to overnight travel.
The new fleet will bring Volvo's focus on safety, comfort, ride quality and operational reliability to Maharashtra's state-run transport services.
Volvo 9600 Seater and Sleeper Coaches: Key Features
The 200-bus order includes two configurations of the Volvo 9600, each designed to meet specific travel needs.
Volvo 9600 Seater Coach
The seater version features a premium 51-seat layout. Its luxury seats come with calf support, designed to improve passenger comfort during long-distance journeys.
The configuration is intended for daytime intercity and interstate services, giving passengers a more comfortable travel experience while supporting MSRTC's long-distance transport operations.
Volvo 9600 Sleeper Coach
The order also includes 30 sleeper coaches featuring a dedicated berth layout for overnight journeys. These buses are designed to make longer trips more comfortable by allowing passengers to travel while resting in sleeper berths.
Together, the seater and sleeper variants will help MSRTC address different passenger needs across its expanding network of long-distance routes.
Volvo Buses India Thanks Maharashtra Government and MSRTC
Commenting on the order, Suresh Chettiar, Executive Vice President - Bus Division at VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd., thanked Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik and Dr Madhav Kusekar, IAS, Managing Director and Vice Chairman of MSRTC, for their continued trust in Volvo buses.
He said the landmark order reflects the shared commitment of Volvo Buses India and MSRTC to improving travel standards and making premium passenger experiences more accessible to Maharashtra's citizens.
Chettiar also expressed the company's commitment to continuing its partnership with MSRTC to enhance the state's public transportation network.
The order further strengthens the relationship between the two organisations, combining MSRTC's extensive passenger transport operations with Volvo Buses India's expertise in premium coach manufacturing.
MSRTC Focuses on Public Transport Modernisation
The order for 200 Volvo 9600 coaches highlights the Maharashtra government's emphasis on passenger comfort, improved safety and the modernisation of state-run transport services.
For MSRTC, the addition of premium seater and sleeper buses is an important step towards improving long-distance travel options across Maharashtra and beyond. The fleet is expected to support a more comfortable and consistent passenger experience while helping the corporation strengthen its intercity and interstate services.
For Volvo Buses India, the deal reinforces its position in the premium intercity coach segment and represents a significant milestone in its partnership with one of India's major state transport corporations.
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CMV360 Says
Volvo Buses India's order for 200 Volvo 9600 coaches marks a major milestone for the company and MSRTC. With 170 seater coaches and 30 sleeper buses, the fleet will support Maharashtra's efforts to modernise intercity and interstate public transport. Manufactured at the Hoskote facility, the coaches are designed to deliver improved comfort, safety and reliability. The order also strengthens the partnership between Volvo Buses India and MSRTC, with passenger experience remaining a key priority.
Robin Kumar Attri is a content and video professional with 2.7 years of experience in the commercial vehicle d .....
