The Ashok Leyland Jan Bus has been launched. The company disclosed the new development on the sidelines of announcing its annual results to the media in Chennai last evening.
The Jan Bus got a soft market launch and has already bagged orders for 1,600 units from state transport units. The bus is the country's first front-engined, low-floor, single-step entry vehicle in operation. Deliveries of the Jan Bus will begin in the first week of June.
After the 2nd round of buses for state transport corporations under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the Jan Bus has found its market.
Of the 10,000 buses under the JNNURM scheme this year, 9,000 have been allotted and tenders for 6,000 have been issued, said the company. Of this 6,000, Ashok Leyland has managed to bag orders for 60-65 percent of buses. Ashok Leyland says that deliveries of units under the scheme will be completed before the end of this fiscal.
The 2013 Bus & Utility expo saw the Jan Bus featuring reverse and interior cameras, wireless connectivity to the bus depot, GPS-assisted route guidance and automatic ticket collection. It is not clear if all these features were included in the buses that are being sold under the JNNURM scheme.
