Reports have been coming from all over the place that BMTC has bought a new set of Mercedes benz buses for plying in the City. The Mercedes Benz buses according to a news report cost Rs 65 lakhs each ,which is cheaper than the Sleek Vajra Volvo B7R ,which costs around 75 lakhs.
Owning a Commercial vehicle market Share of around 13 % in the World, the renowned Mercedes Benz is entering into India with a great plan of expanding its base. The engine capacity of the 2 axle mercedes Benz is 7.2 litres that is akin to the existing Volvo B7R (which is a 7L ) engine. Although coming at a cheaper rate, the Mercedes Benz bus looks more like the existing Tata’s Marco polo buses which have been quite good on the Bangalore’s roads. There is no doubt that the World class Engineering of Mercedes Benz would prove an excellent fit for a comfortable transport system and there seem to be speculations that the Bus is customised to the Indian driving conditions.
While Volvos have somehow got a stronghold in the existing BMTC fleet ,owing to their amazing comfort and performance in the grippin bangalore traffic, It would still be a hard test for the Mercedes benz buses to win the hearts of Bangaloreans amidst the rising prices of Public transport. Under any situation will people not be comfortable paying a higher than existing price to get a ride in the Mercedes Benz buses. It would therefore be unlikely that BMTC charges a higher price for travelling in Mercedes Benz buses in Future.
For Now, Bangaloreans have the liberty to travel in a Mercedes for as low as 1 ruppes to 5 rupees till the trial run ends.
Took a ride in BMTC Mercedes 335E last week from ITPL to Domlur. Been going by Volvo to various places in Bangalore in the past 2 years+ and it scores over Merc many a times due to:
a) Volvo offers greater and smooter suspension
b) Merc jerks very badly when it starts
c) Merc offers flat foor seating (more seats) but offers less standing space
d) Merc is more noisier almost like Marco Polo
e) Surprising to hear creaking noise in a week old Merc bus
f) Also, Merc buses that I saw are in dull white color and doesnot look like a AC bus.
Seemed to me like a chinese fake of Original Merc!!
BMTC can do better by coloring Volvo Airport buses Vayu Vajra differently instead of confusing commuters by coloring Vajra – Normal city volvo buses in blue, orange, red etc.. which doesnot add any meaning to them.
BMTC should put route number indicator on the fourth side as well.
BMTC can introduce flat foor seating for Volvos similar to new Mercs
Hi Ravi,
Great to hear Feedback on the BMTC Mercedes buses rolling in..
Thanks for your valuable feed back ..
I ll be starting a thread on this in the autoraiders Forum.
http://autoraiders.com/autoraiders-interactive-forum/
Your post is available in
http://autoraiders.com/autoraiders-interactive-forum/feedback-on-bmtc-introduction-of-mercedes-buses-in-bangalore/first-feedback-about-the-mercedes-buses-introduced-by-bmtc/
It is great to see a feedback on this topic.
Keep Going with more feedback..
Admin-Autoraiders