Liyaqat Ali Hosur - Maintaining NWKRTC VOLVOs in Belgaum

7:18:00 PM Biswajit SVM Chaser 0 Comments

As a VOLVO fan, i have the craze to click and post VOLVO photographs whenever and wherever i can. I have done my best in my current city of Belgaum, Karnataka, also i have done many intercity and interstate tours in order to fulfill my passion. My passion does not gets limited to just clicking pictures of the VOLVOs, but as an engineering student i have always tried to know and update myself on the latest technology and about the machines under the hood. 

My anxiousness to know more about the technical and the machinery part of a VOLVO, made me to meet Mr Liyaqat Ali Hosur, who is currently the VOLVO in Charge of the VOLVO Section of NWKRTC (North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) Belgaum Depot 1. A very knowledgeable person, Mr Hosur holds a diploma degree in general Mechanical Stream from Government Polytechnic, Belgaum. 

As i started to meet him quite often in the depot to learn, study and understand the functioning of the engine parts and also study the electronics behind these swedish machines, i started realizing how much hard work is involved to maintain these machines, in order to make sure that they run smoothly on our highways. 

I am hereby making an effort to bring people like Mr Hosur, in limelight so that people do recognize the hard work and their efforts in maintenance which makes the swedish VOLVOs to run so smoothly.

Mr Liyaqat Ali Hosur , born on 14th June 1969, did his primary education from Ramapur in Khanapur Taluka, Belgaum in Urdu Medium upto 7th Class, after that he shifted to Bidi, which is also in Khanapur Taluka to complete his SSLC. After SSLC, he did his ITI in Haliyal in Uttara Kannada district. He got introduction to subjects like Workshop Calculation and Science, Engineering Drawing, Lathe, fitting attachment etc, but he specialized in lathe operations. Hosur completed his ITI in 1987. Hosur further continued his studies and took a three years diploma degree in General Mechanical at Government Polytechnic, Belgaum. He learned fuel system, heat treatment, forging, welding etc which included both theory and practical sessions. 

After completing his education, Hosur started working as a Job Inspector at Jai Hind Engineering, after which he also worked at Sankeshwar Sugar factory as a technician where he was in charge of the maintenance of boilers. 

Hosur's first introduction to automobile world was in the year 1996-97 when he applied for a job in NWKRTC Belgaum. He got an appointment as a technician and was in charge of the maintenance of TATA and Ashok Leyland Intercity buses of the depot. He continued working on the same post upto 2005. 

In 2005, Hosur was selected by NWKRTC Belgaum division for a 5 days VOLVO Training session in VOLVO India headquaters at Hoskote, Bangalore. Hosur got introduced to the VOLVO B7R Mark 2, which was primarily introduced in India at that time. Upon being asked about the training, hosur further told that stress was given on Quality maintenance, Safety maintenance and also on environmental safety. The whole procedure of the training was based on presentations and on practical sessions. There were trainee's even from countries like Bangladesh, Australia and USA, Hosur further added. In the same year, NWKRTC Belgaum Division opened its VOLVO section as it received 2 VOLVO B7R Mark 2's for operating on Belgaum - Kolhapur - Belgaum - Tirupati route via Bangalore. From 2005 to 2008, the maintenance of the VOLVOs in the Belgaum depot was done on an Annual Maintenance Contract with a private firm M/s Lathangi VOLVO pvt Limited, Bangalore, which was providing VOLVO material to the depot. The tyre maintenance was only done by the depot technicians at that time. 

In 2005, North Karnataka had only 4 VOLVO B7R Mark 2's with Hubli division getting 2 and Belgaum Division with 2 of them. From the year 2008, Belgaum division started getting materials and spare parts directly from VOLVO and became self dependent on maintenance with trained VOLVO technicians, Hosur added. The man force of the Belgaum depot also increased which in turn helped in keeping the vehicles well maintained in time. 

In the year 2010, VOLVO B9R multiaxles arrived in the Belgaum depot and also Mr Hosur was made the VOLVO In charge of the Belgaum Depot 1. From 2010 to 2014, Mr Hosur is in charge of the maintenance of the VOLVO B9R Multiaxles, VOLVO B7R Mark 2/Mark 3 Biaxles and also currently he is also in charge of the VOLVO 8400 low floor city bus, that has been recently brought in the depot. 

Upon being asked about the maintenance of VOLVOs, Hosur told that they generally do Engine maintenance, Air Conditioner maintenance, Electric and Electronic parts and Circuitry maintenance, Entertainment system maintenance, Clutch and Gear Section maintenance, and also Vehicle driving testing etc. He also further added that general meetings are held in the depot regarding discussions of availability and supply of VOLVO parts and also requirement of Man Power is also discussed when needed. 

When asked about future of VOLVO, Mr Hosur was quite optimistic and affirmative about VOLVO's bright future in India He was all praise for VOLVO's quality products and said he was looking forward for more quality vehicles from VOLVO. 

Upon being asked about Scania, he smiled and told he wanted to wait and see and is anxious to study more about the variants of Scania Metrolink HD currently introduced in Indian Market. 

It was indeed a very nice interview with Mr Liyaqat Ali Hosur, i am very happy to have met such knowledgeable people dealing with technical prospects of machinery and automobiles. I am thankful to Mr Hosur to have given time for me for this interview and also uncountable hours that he have spent with me in explaining the VOLVO B9R and its functioning of the spare parts. 

Its really a pleasure Mr Hosur to have you with us in Belgaum NWKRTC division as in charge. I wish him all the very best for a bright future.