BENGALURU, 4th September 2026, Vijayanand Travels Private Limited (VTPL), a leading pioneer in Indian intercity mobility, has placed a landmark order for 150 Volvo 9600 luxury sleeper coaches from Volvo Buses India. Representing the largest single order ever placed by a private bus operator with Volvo Buses in India, the milestone was formally marked by an executive key handover ceremony in Bengaluru today.
The significant capital investment expands VTPL’s operational footprint across South, West, and Central India while driving its strategic rollout into new states. The fleet expansion boosts VTPL to the highest overall Volvo bus count among private transport operators nationwide, reinforcing its market leadership in the premium long-distance travel segment.
Redefining Long-Haul Comfort & Innovation
VTPL has built a strong reputation for introducing customer-centric innovations to the Indian passenger transit industry. The company was among the first to introduce dedicated seating reservations for women, in-house vehicle maintenance infrastructure, and strict double-driver deployments for safety on long-distance routes.
To meet increasing passenger demands on long-distance routes, 70 to 80 of the 150 new coaches will feature built-in onboard washrooms—a first-of-its-kind large-scale deployment by a private intercity operator in India. This feature directly supports VTPL’s flagship “Gold Class” travel experience, positioning intercity bus travel as a comfortable, accessible alternative to domestic flights.
The expansion comes on the heels of strong digital and operational momentum for VTPL:
- Route Leadership: Operator of Asia’s longest continuous bus route, connecting Bengaluru to Jodhpur.
- Digital Scale: Over 2 million downloads of the VTPL booking application, which offers a flat 15% booking discount.
- Daily Footprint: Serving an average of 20,000 passenger journeys every day.
Speaking at the key handover ceremony, Shiva Sankeshwar, Managing Director of Vijayanand Travels Private Limited, emphasized the strategic alignment behind the investment:
“Our association with Volvo goes back decades, built on one simple principle: our customers deserve the highest standards of safety, reliability, and comfort. With this order of 150 Volvo buses—the largest single order placed by any private bus operator—we are significantly strengthening our fleet, expanding into new states, and reinforcing Vijayanand Travels’ position as India’s most trusted premium intercity travel brand.”
B Srinivas, MD & CEO of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), highlighted the importance of the partnership:
“Vijayanand Travels has been one of Volvo Buses’ most valued and longest-standing private operator partners in India, and this landmark order is a powerful testament to the trust built over decades. The Volvo 9600 represents the pinnacle of intercity luxury, and seeing it anchor Vijayanand Travels’ ambitious pan-India growth story is deeply gratifying.”
Engineering Overview: The Volvo 9600 Platform
Built on Volvo’s award-winning European design architecture, the Volvo 9600 luxury sleeper coach incorporates a distinctive “Tall Boy” body profile that maximizes interior headroom, passenger space, and cargo storage.
Volvo 9600 Sleeper Coach
The Volvo 9600 platform has been derived from an award-winning European design and has already been setting significant benchmarks in luxury and comfort by operating successfully on key routes across the country. The distinctive Tall Boy design marries fine aesthetics with generous easily accommodate 40 sleeper berths and comes with 8.5 cu.m of luggage space. At the heart of the Volvo 9600 platform is the fuel-efficient Volvo D8K (8-litre) engine, delivering a power of 260 kW (350 HP) @ 2200 RPM and a torque of 1350 Nm @ 1200-1600 RPM. The fuel-efficient engine along with its purpose-developed drivetrain is designed to minimise Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and maximise uptime for bus operators. The chassis includes the I-Shift automated manual gearbox, Electronic Braking System (EBS), Hill Start Aid, and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) systems. Fire Detection and Suppression System (FDSS) is provided for the engine compartment and FAPS in the passenger area. Manufactured at VECV’s state-of-the-art facility in Hoskote, Karnataka, the Volvo 9600 reflects a strong commitment to the ‘Make in India’ initiative, combining global engineering excellence with local manufacturing capabilities to deliver world-class mobility solutions tailored for Indian operating conditions.
The integrated powertrain is engineered to reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and maximize uptime on heavy long-haul schedules. Manufactured at VECV’s manufacturing plant in Hoskote, Karnataka, the 9600 platform pairs European engineering standards with localized manufacturing under the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
