<p>Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/ksrtc">KSRTC</a>) is inducting new vehicles to replace its ageing premium bus fleet. </p>.<p>On Friday, the corporation will launch five new Airavat Club Class 2.0 seater buses. It is also expected to receive five more Ambaari Utsav sleeper buses the same evening, though their induction into passenger service may take some time, officials in the know said. </p>.<p>With these additions, the KSRTC's premium fleet will grow to 455, the largest in the country. It recently phased out several end-of-life buses, causing its premium fleet to drop below 450. </p>.<p>The KSRTC currently has 445 premium vehicles, including 332 Volvo and 113 non-Volvo buses. </p>.<p>Among the Volvo buses is Ambaari Utsav, the European-style air-conditioned sleeper passenger vehicles that have become the crown jewel in the operator's fleet. The KSRTC currently has 40 of them. </p>.<p>Airavat Club Class 2.0 is the seater variant from the same category. The KSRTC has 20 of these vehicles. </p>.<p>Both models are multi-axle Volvo B11R 9600 buses and have become popular for their comfort and appealing aesthetics, a senior KSRTC official said. </p>.KSRTC suspends employee for forging signatures, issuing fake orders.<p>Each Ambaari Utsav bus costs Rs 1.8 crore, while each Airavat Club Class 2.0 bus costs Rs 1.78 crore, the official added. </p>.<p>Of the five-seater buses launching on Friday, two each will be assigned to the Mangaluru and Mysuru depots, and one to the Bengaluru central depot. Of the five sleeper buses, three will be allocated to the Mangaluru depot and two to the Bengaluru central depot, another senior official said. </p>.<p>KSRTC Managing Director Akram Pasha confirmed the induction and said that routes were being finalised. </p>.<p>These premium buses will help the state-run transport corporation compete with private players in long-haul travel. They are also more profitable than other buses. </p>.<p>An Ambaari Utsav bus costs Rs 77.9 per kilometre to operate and earns Rs 92.16 per km. The operational cost of an Airavat Club Class 2.0 bus is Rs 70.78 per kilometre while its per-km earning is Rs 79.16. </p>.<p>Currently, these buses operate from Bengaluru to Mangaluru and Kundapura in Karantaka, and major cities in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. </p>.<p><strong>KSRTC fleet: An overview</strong></p>.<p><strong>Total: 8,836</strong></p>.<p><strong>Karnataka Sarige: </strong>5,874<strong><br>Nagara Sarige: </strong>2,149<br><strong>Volvo:</strong> 332<br><strong>Non-Volvo:</strong> 113 (Mercedes Benz: 18; Scania MA: 72; Tata AC Sleeper BS 6: 4)<br><strong>Non-AC sleeper:</strong> 189 (Tata and Ashok Leyland)<br><strong>Rajahamsa:</strong> 179</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/ksrtc">KSRTC</a>) is inducting new vehicles to replace its ageing premium bus fleet. </p>.<p>On Friday, the corporation will launch five new Airavat Club Class 2.0 seater buses. It is also expected to receive five more Ambaari Utsav sleeper buses the same evening, though their induction into passenger service may take some time, officials in the know said. </p>.<p>With these additions, the KSRTC's premium fleet will grow to 455, the largest in the country. It recently phased out several end-of-life buses, causing its premium fleet to drop below 450. </p>.<p>The KSRTC currently has 445 premium vehicles, including 332 Volvo and 113 non-Volvo buses. </p>.<p>Among the Volvo buses is Ambaari Utsav, the European-style air-conditioned sleeper passenger vehicles that have become the crown jewel in the operator's fleet. The KSRTC currently has 40 of them. </p>.<p>Airavat Club Class 2.0 is the seater variant from the same category. The KSRTC has 20 of these vehicles. </p>.<p>Both models are multi-axle Volvo B11R 9600 buses and have become popular for their comfort and appealing aesthetics, a senior KSRTC official said. </p>.KSRTC suspends employee for forging signatures, issuing fake orders.<p>Each Ambaari Utsav bus costs Rs 1.8 crore, while each Airavat Club Class 2.0 bus costs Rs 1.78 crore, the official added. </p>.<p>Of the five-seater buses launching on Friday, two each will be assigned to the Mangaluru and Mysuru depots, and one to the Bengaluru central depot. Of the five sleeper buses, three will be allocated to the Mangaluru depot and two to the Bengaluru central depot, another senior official said. </p>.<p>KSRTC Managing Director Akram Pasha confirmed the induction and said that routes were being finalised. </p>.<p>These premium buses will help the state-run transport corporation compete with private players in long-haul travel. They are also more profitable than other buses. </p>.<p>An Ambaari Utsav bus costs Rs 77.9 per kilometre to operate and earns Rs 92.16 per km. The operational cost of an Airavat Club Class 2.0 bus is Rs 70.78 per kilometre while its per-km earning is Rs 79.16. </p>.<p>Currently, these buses operate from Bengaluru to Mangaluru and Kundapura in Karantaka, and major cities in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. </p>.<p><strong>KSRTC fleet: An overview</strong></p>.<p><strong>Total: 8,836</strong></p>.<p><strong>Karnataka Sarige: </strong>5,874<strong><br>Nagara Sarige: </strong>2,149<br><strong>Volvo:</strong> 332<br><strong>Non-Volvo:</strong> 113 (Mercedes Benz: 18; Scania MA: 72; Tata AC Sleeper BS 6: 4)<br><strong>Non-AC sleeper:</strong> 189 (Tata and Ashok Leyland)<br><strong>Rajahamsa:</strong> 179</p>