Scania attracts Karnataka’s largest fleet operator SRS Travels

Swedish CV major Scania has opened its account with Karnataka’s largest fleet operator SRS Travels by delivering two of its luxury coach buses.  

With this, Scania has succeeded in attracting one of the major Volvo bus customers in the private segment in Karnataka. SRS Travels, which has a fleet size of 5,500 vehicles comprising mini buses, luxury coaches and MUVs, is known for its interstate coach buses in South India.

Apart from Ashok Leyland and Tata Motors, SRS procures premium luxury coach buses from Volvo.

Anders Grundströmer, MD, Scania Commercial Vehicles India and senior vice-president, Scania Group, said, “We are delighted to formally handover our first Scania Metrolink Coaches to SRS Travels. The advanced technology and design of these coaches introduces a new level of performance on the Indian market. It offers significant fuel savings and thereby carbon reductions, as well as outstanding comfort and safety for the passengers.”

Till date, the company sold around 200 Metrolink buses in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka, he said. “So far we were concentrating in the southern and western part of India and now slowly we are moving towards the northern region,” he added while handing over the buses to K T Rajashekhara, CEO, SRS Travels, in Bangalore yesterday.

Talking to Autocar Professional, Rajashekhara told that their company posted a turnover of Rs 450 crore in 2013-14 with a strong presence in South India. “Now we are also expanding our fleet size in other parts of India,” he added. He said his company, which has over 100 Volvo buses, plans to procure more buses from Scania in the future.

Rajashekhara also expressed his concern over multiple road tax structures in India. For instance, he said buses transporting passengers from Karnataka to Kerala through Tamil Nadu should remit taxes to all these states. He said the government should consider bringing in a single-tax structure to encourage private fleet operators.

Photograph: Scania India Commercial Vehicles’ Anders Grundströmer, Sivakumar V, sales director, Scania Commercial Vehicles India and K T Rajashekhara, CEO of SRS Travels.