AMTS will have these buses plying on roads at the same rate as AMTS but only for a one-month trial run.
Public transport has never looked more welcoming than this. Ahmedabad Municipal Transport System will soon have air-conditioned Volvo and Mercedes Benz buses plying on city roads and that too at the same fares that the transport body's rickety buses charge.
However, the catch is that the joy of travelling in a swanky bus would not last long as they would only be part of a one-month trial run.
The transport manager at AMTS, MS Patel told DNA that officials of the super luxury companies have approached civic body officials to operate the super luxury bus for a period of one month.
The AMC will not be charged a single paisa as rent but will have to foot the fuel expense.
"Special drivers are required to drive the Mercedez Benz buses and so we will start driver training on May 18. We intend to start the trial run on the circular route of Vasna to Chandkheda from May 20," said a senior AMTS official.
So, does AMTS intend to buy these super luxury buses to improve its service and attract hi-end commuters? "No, it doesn't seem so. AMTS believes in buying more buses than spend huge amounts on a single bus," said a senior AMC official.
In fact, officials from Volvo and Mercedes Benz reportedly approached AMC because Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL) had written to them to check if they would manufacture buses for the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS).
"I had written to them one month ago to manufacture buses as per our specifications. For the BRTS, we need buses with a road clearance of 900 mm and with the main door on the left side. Volvo and Mercedes Benz buses have low floor buses but with the door on the right side. However, we have not got any response from them as of now," said deputy municipal commissioner and executive director of AJL, Utpal Padia.
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