Delhi Inducts 100 Allison-equipped JBM CITYLIFE Buses

Unprecedented Lockdown Led To Unprecedented Initiatives: Padmakumar G

Allison Transmission, a designer and manufacturer of vehicle propulsion solutions for commercial and defence vehicles, has announced that 100 JBM CITYLIFE city buses are being added to the existing fleet of Delhi city.

In a recent function held at Rajghat Depot in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot flagged off the low-floor air-conditioned buses.

The buses are equipped with Allison T280 fully automatic transmissions. The BS-VI complaint ‘JBM CITYLIFE’ buses which run on compressed natural gas feature CCTV cameras, a public address system, a smart card ticketing system, a real time passenger information system, Automatic Bus Vehicle Location System, stop request buttons and a wheelchair ramp, the company said in a release.

C.K. Goyal, Vice President, Road Transport, DIMTS, said, “With Delhi city expanding rapidly, we are committed to providing a modern public transportation system with a safe and comfortable ride to our passengers. Keeping this in mind, the Delhi government introduced low-floor buses equipped with fully automatic transmissions for enhanced passenger comfort and increased safety under a cluster scheme of Transport Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi.”

DIMTS is the Integrated Mechanism of Transport Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi. The buses are introduced under OPEX Model and procured by the concessionaire.

Allison said its torque converter experiences very little wear, and the transmissions require only periodic fluid and filter changes to maintain peak performance. Manual transmissions and AMTs both rely on a clutch that eventually burns out and requires more downtime for maintenance. With the Allison Torqmatic Series specially designed for city buses, it further reduces downtime by increasing the life of the brakes, the release claimed.

Nishant Arya, Vice Chairman and MD, JBM Auto Ltd, said, “Allison Transmission is a world leader in automatic transmissions and has been our partner in consistently delivering convenient, safe and technologically superior public transportation solutions. We are extremely delighted to collaborate with Allison as we see substantial value in their transmissions.” 

Anshul Gupta, Commercial Director, Allison Transmission India, said, “The highlight of the fully automatic transmission is that fleet owners can experience a greater overall economic value with reduced downtime and the ability to get more work done. We are delighted that all low-floor CNG buses in Delhi NCR, over 4,500 currently in operation which are from leading OEMs in India, trust Allison.” (MT)

Prawaas 5.0

Prawaas 5.0, an event focused on the public transport industry, concluded on 11 July 2026 at the Helipad Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The three-day event marked the 10th anniversary of the Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI).

The event recorded 20,129 registrations and hosted 227 exhibitors, 20 startups and 120 speakers across 15 sessions. It saw participation from 31 states and union territories, as well as 11 countries.

During the event, two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed. The first, between Rotary International District 3080 and BOCI Naari, aims to support the skilling and employment of women as drivers. The second, between Rotary International District 3080 and BOCI, addresses the mental well-being of drivers and road safety.

Prasanna Patwardhan, President of the Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI), said, "As BOCI completes ten years, Prawaas 5.0 reflects how collaboration, innovation and progressive policymaking are shaping the future of passenger mobility in India. Over the past three days, the exhibition has brought together operators, policymakers, manufacturers, technology providers and entrepreneurs on a common platform to exchange ideas, build partnerships and explore solutions for the sector's evolving needs. The participation and enthusiasm witnessed this year reaffirm our collective commitment to building a safer, smarter and more sustainable passenger transport ecosystem that supports the vision of Viksit Bharat."

The Bharat Prawaas Awards 2026 honoured 72 recipients, including 50 BOCI Excellence Awards and 22 redBus People's Choice Awards. The event was organised by BOCI, hosted by the Akhil Gujarat Pravasi Vahan Sanchalak Mahamandal, and curated by MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications.

Tata Motors Partners UCO Bank For Commercial Vehicle Financing

Tata Motors CV - UCO Bank

Tata Motors, one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UCO Bank for financing solutions.

Through this collaboration, customers will have access to interest rates, loan approvals and processing. The agreement includes loan-to-value funding options and repayment tenures. The partners will coordinate across branches and dealerships to reach customers in urban and rural markets.

Shashikant Kumar, General Manager & Zonal Head – Mumbai, UCO Bank, said, “The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding with Tata Motors Limited marks another significant milestone in UCO Bank’s commitment to delivering innovative and customer centric financing solutions. Through this strategic partnership, we aim to provide seamless, competitive and timely financing for TATA Motors commercial vehicles, enabling entrepreneurs, fleet operators and businesses to expand with confidence.”

Rajesh Kaul, Vice-President & Business Head – Trucks, Tata Motors Ltd., said, “We are pleased to partner with UCO Bank to further strengthen the financing ecosystem for our commercial vehicle customers. Access to organised and competitive financing is a key enabler for our customers' growth, and UCO Bank's strong nationwide presence makes them an ideal partner in this endeavour. This MoU reinforces our commitment to delivering end-to-end solutions, from world-class vehicles to organised financing that empower our customers to grow their businesses with greater confidence and convenience.”

At present, Tata Motors’ product portfolio ranges from 1-tonne to 55-tonne cargo vehicles and 10-seater to 51-seater mass mobility solutions. The company provides services through its Sampoorna Seva 2.0 initiative, the Fleet Edge platform and a network of over 4,500 sales and service touchpoints.

Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper Coach Launched At Prawaas 5.0

Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper

Volvo Buses India, a business unit of VE Commercial Vehicles, has unveiled the Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper coach at the Prawaas 5.0 exhibition in Gandhinagar. It is designed to combine seating and sleeper configurations in a single platform for intercity, tourism and pilgrimage routes.

The 15-metre coach accommodates 51 passengers, featuring 24 upper-deck sleeper berths and 27 lower-deck seats equipped with calf support. It is powered by the Volvo VEDX8 engine and utilises an I-shift transmission. The interior includes an integrated kitchenette, an onboard toilet, mobile charging points and entertainment systems.

S S Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “India's bus industry is evolving rapidly, with rising passenger expectations for premium travel experiences and operators seeking higher productivity and operational efficiency. At Volvo Buses India, we continue to shape the future of mobility by combining globally proven engineering with innovations that address evolving needs of the Indian market. The Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper expands our premium coach portfolio with a flexible solution that meets customer expectations for safety, comfort and luxury."

Suresh Chettiar, Executive Vice-President – Bus Division, VE Commercial Vehicles, added, "The Volvo 9600 platform has been widely appreciated for setting new standards in luxury, safety and passenger comfort. Building on that success, we are introducing the Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper to meet the growing demand for more flexible premium travel solutions. Featuring 24 upper sleeper berths and 27 premium lower-deck seats with calf support, the new coach enables operators to efficiently cater to both short- and long-distance routes while delivering an elevated travel experience for passengers."

The vehicle introduces safety features, including a 360-degree camera system and camera-based electronic rear-view mirrors. It also includes a tyre pressure monitoring system, a driver state monitoring system to detect fatigue and an alcohol interlock system. The coach is equipped with a telematics solution for real-time monitoring of vehicle location, performance and fuel consumption.

Prawaas 5.0

The Prawaas 5.0 exhibition, an event focused on the public transport industry, has opened at the Helipad Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Scheduled from 9–11 July 2026, the exhibition is organised by the Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) to coincide with its 10th anniversary.

The event, held under the theme ‘Towards Safe, Smart & Sustainable Passenger Mobility,’ brings together manufacturers, technology providers, and operators. Exhibitors include companies such as Tata Motors, VE Commercial Vehicles, Daimler, JBM, Force Motors, EKA Mobility, Switch Mobility and Sun Mobility, among others.

The exhibition showcases a range of technologies and solutions across the transport value chain, including electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, fleet management systems and digital platforms. The event aims to serve as a platform for industry stakeholders, including fleet owners, state transport undertakings and policymakers, to discuss developments in the sector.

The inauguration was led by Miraben Patel, Mayor of Gandhinagar and Kaushik Jain, MLA of Dariapur. Over the three-day programme, the exhibition will host product launches, conferences and business meetings intended to facilitate collaboration within the passenger transport sector.