Childhood passions and fascinations generally diminish for many as they grow up, but for few others they have become goals to achieve in life, Biswajit Baruah, Son of Late Dilip Kumar Baruah and Rekha Baruah, a native of Guwahati, Assam has a similar story. A native Assamese staying at Belagavi, Karnataka is an inspired Bus Entrepreneur, Enthusiast, Journalist and a Amateur CV-Photographer.

Buses have been a childhood passion for Biswajit. A product of KLS Gogte Institute of Technology, Belagavi - Biswajit is the founder and CEO of Hive Sustainable Solutions, a Belagavi based start up company, which deals with providing sustainable solutions of bus fleet operations and bus industry as a whole, in India. Biswajit has worked previously as a 'Mentor and Director' of a Bengaluru based start-up 'Bus-Bucket' and its sister concern 'Ozobus' , before starting his own venture - 'Hive' at Belagavi. Biswajit has expertise in Automobile and Bus Journalism. His initial start up initiative of Blog Writing through his Bus Blog took him to work as a freelance 'Consulting Editor' to India's premium Commercial Vehicle Magazine - 'Motor India'. He is also a guest writer for Belagavi's premiere news and current affairs website - 'All About Belgaum'.

Biswajit started his passion as an amateur Bus Photographer and till date have captured more than 100,000 pictures of buses. He is fond of gaining and sharing technical knowledge about mechanics and electronics which drive buses. He also likes heavy commercial vehicles like trucks, excavators, cranes etc. Biswajit visits expos and exhibitions Pan India to meet people from the bus and CV Industry and to learn about products and latest technologies. His Blog and his facebook page - 'Biswajit - SVM Chaser' is followed by many top bus companies and OEMs for insights and feedback. Biswajit is well known amongst the bus fleet operators in India and is well recognized by the top operators like VRL Travels, SRS Travels and KSRTC in Karnataka, for his views and insights regarding sustainable bus fleet operations and services.

With a Pan-India approach, Biswajit stresses on the required effort for sustainable bus transport in India. He believes that Passenger Service and the Bus Crew Category is the most sought area, which needs urgent attention to bring streamline development in bus services across the country. He is currently working in the fields of Smart Mobility, Bus Codes, Inter-Modal Transport, Sustainable Transport, Biofuel Drivelines, Zero Carbon footprint initiatives, ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems), MaaS (Mobility as a Service), Big Data, PPP (Public Private Partnership), Smart Ticketing, Contactless Payments, Electric Drivelines, Smart City Initiatives, Passenger Safety and Security, Digital Solutions for Vehicle Maintenance and Monitoring.

Biswajit have been highlighted by various print and digital media in the country for his passion for buses, which includes - 'The New Indian Express', 'Times Of India', 'All About Belgaum', 'Scania India Blog', 'Vijayavani Karnataka (VRL Media)', 'Darshan Belgaum', and 'Vijay Karnataka'. He was felicitated by Rotary Club of Dharwad Central, Karnataka for his outstanding contribution to the Bus Industry especially in the areas of sustainable transport solutions. Biswajit, won the Indian Achiever's Award for the 'Promising Start Up' Category in 2022, adding another achievement to his tally.

Apart from India, Biswajit is followed by and contacted by top bus experts from European countries like Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Finland and Asian Countries like Bangladesh, China, Nepal and Indonesia. With a zeal for his passion for buses and commercial vehicle industry, Biswajit have dared to dream big on his entrepreneur ventures to develop Indian Bus Industry, encompassing whole of India.

My Birthday funfare with VOLVO passion

12:58:00 PM Biswajit SVM Chaser 2 Comments

11th December, the day of the year when i celebrate my birthday. Birthday wishes on my facebook wall and wishes in my inbox started to pour in right from the midnight of 10th december. People wishing with words and with birthday pics and even VOLVO Bus pics on wall. Checked all the messages replied them, was awake till early 11th morning.

After a nice sleep, the morning rays welcomed me with a new day. I was just thinking how can i make my birthday special this time with some VOLVO tinge on it. After breakfast, i made my mind for a Highway faning session alone. So at around 11 am, i set off from my home with a refueling done from my usual 3rd gate Indian petrol pump, on Congress Road, Tilakwadi. Soon i crossed the belgaum traffic, after KLES hospital on to NH4 highway. At day time i never expect getting VOLVO multiaxle buses on this stretch of highway, as majority always passes at midnight doing Bangalore - Mumbai, Mangalore - Mumbai routes and same from the opposite ends too. What i expect is Trucks. Apart from multiaxle buses, the HCV's (Heavy Commercial Vehicles) including Trucks, Trailers, Tankers, Pullers, Miners, Excavators, Cranes always attract me, and i am very enthusiastic to know more about these heavy commercial vehicles.

To my bad luck, i didnt get close up shots of my favorite TATA Prima and VOLVO Trucks ever during my faning sessions. This time i wished, of geting one of my favorite trucks standing somewhere on the highway. With thoughts scribbling on my mind i started to move ahead on NH4 on the Belgaum - Kolhapur stretch of the highway. Soon i crossed Barde Dhaba and cruised ahead towards Kakti, but no signs of my favorite trucks. As i crossed Kakti towards Honaga, still my favorite trucks were untraceable. After Honaga, towards Sankeshwar i was little bit doubtful, about whether going ahead will make any sense. So being disappointed, i thought of returning back to Belgaum city. On my way back, still my eyes were craving for a VOLVO or a TATA Prima truck, but none to be seen to my disguise. Even i started my prayers, to get a standing Truck. Soon on my way back, as i reached Barde Dhaba on the other lane it saw a huge truck standing on the highway near the Barde Dhaba and Petrol Pump. As i approached the truck from the opposite lane, my anxiousness aroused and suddenly it was like "thats it" it was a VOLVO FM truck!!!! . I was thrilled but i knew i was on the opposite lane. So i raced my two wheeler towards the nearest underbridge crossing onto the service road to access the opposite lane on NH4. At the same time i feared that the truck shouldnt leave from that place. In a hurry, i would have almost hit a bike from the opposite direction on the service road, I gestured sorry to the bike driver and moved ahead. And yes atlast i was near the VOLVO FM beast !!!!

Being thrilled, firstly i parked my vehicle close to the dhaba, and tried to find the crew, as there was no one inside the truck cab or near it. I waited for around 15 minutes but i found no one. It seemed the crew had stop the truck there for some refreshments and food at the dhaba. I thought of asking the dhaba people about the crew of the truck, but later i thought of waiting there for some more time.

I saw a person with his clothes on hand walking towards the truck, it seemed he had gone for a bath and to fresh up. The Indian truck drivers undertake very long journeys on the highways, travelling thousands of kilometers stretching from South Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh to North Indian States, West and East and also North East India. The continuous tedious driving makes them very tired, they sometimes rest and sleep inside their vehicles parking them besides highways or on roadside small hotels called dhaba's , where they take food, sleep and and rest.

With a zeal for knowledge i approached to the person may be in his early 50's . By the time i reached the Truck, he was inside the truck. I just signaled him with a hello and introduced myself and told him that i am an ardent Bus and HCV (Heavy Commercial Vehicle) Fan and i want to take photographs of the truck and want to know more about the truck. With a friendly smile and gesture he welcomed me and told that i can very well take as many pics i want. His name is Jabiullah, and is basically a resident of Mumbai.

VOLVO FM 12 380 HP TRUCK

JABIULLAH ON STEERING OF VOLVO FM12 380 HP TRUCK

After a few clicks of the VOLVO FM 12 Truck, Jabiullah insisted me for a cup of tea at the small dhaba besides the highway. I accompanied him to the dhaba and sat with face to face with him with many questions to ask him about the truck and his profession.

We finished our tea discussing things for around half an hour and soon it was time for Jabiullah to leave for Mumbai as he was getting late, the fact that he was driving all alone from Chennai to Belgaum and ahead all the way to Mumbai.

As we headed toward the truck, i thought of taking a few more pics, before bidding goodbye to him. Here is a pic of Jabiullah posing with his VOLVO FM12 Truck.

JABIULLAH POSING WITH HIS VOLVO FM12 380 HP TRUCK

With a happy mood after getting VOLVO FM12 Truck after repeated rounds on NH4, i headed back towards home happily. I was hungry and it was around 1:15 pm in the afternoon.

At around 2 pm i reached home and had lunch with my mother. As it was my birthday, mom had prepared a special lunch with my favorite food items and sweets.

Being a facebook and blog addict, i updated my status on facebook about my hunt of the VOLVO FM12 Truck instantly. I got replies from friends asking about the pics to be posted soon. While i was watermarking my pics, after my lunch, suddenly my eyes struck the clock on the wall, it was 3:00 pm in the afternoon. My instincts intialised my VOLVO fever again, i thought still its not enough, lets do something to make my birthday memorable with this passion. Suddenly i decided to undertake a to and fro Belgaum - Kolhapur - Belgaum VOLVO B9R Multiaxle Bus journey for a memorable end to my birthday.

After having decided, i packed my bag, took my Nikon DSLR camera, got dressed and left for Belgaum CBT (Central Bus Terminus) as the NWKRTC Airavat Club Class Multiaxle VOLVO B9R doing Belgaum - Kolhapur - Belgaum - Tirupati, departs at 4:00 pm sharp to Kolhapur. After parking my two wheeler at the bus stand parking, i headed towards the bus platform and waited for the yellow cruiser to arrive for departure to Kolhapur. At 3:45 pm, the VOLVO B9R came out from the adjacent Belgaum Depot 1 Gate besides the bus stand and headed towards the platform. It was KA42 F 1392 coach of the depot. As the VOLVO backed up and alighted at the platform, i entered the bus and took the first window seat (seat number 1) of the coach. The ticketing for Belgaum - Kolhapur - Belgaum is always done inside the bus by electronic ticket meter by the conductor. Seat number 1 behind the driver gives a clear view of the road and also its one of my favorite seats, which i book during my reservation journeys too.

I called my friend Shantanu Gokhale, another passionate VOLVO fan from Kolhapur about my surprise journey and told him about my plans. He said he was free to meet me near Kolhapur CBS, where the VOLVO stops for around 15 minutes and again board passengers for its return journey to Belgaum.

At 4:05 pm, the yellow cruiser left belgaum CBT for Kolhapur. My one way ticket from Belgaum to Kolhapur of Rs 150/- was generated before the commencement of the journey. The last time i travelled on this route, i was charged Rs 170/- but i guess the rates of NWKRTC buses have come down.

Soon we crossed the fort lake after taking a turn towards Kolhapur circle, Ramdev, Belgaum. Here is a pic i took inside from my seat in the first row.

Soon we hit NH4 towards Kolhapur. One of favorite movie - Dilwale Dulhaniya Ley Jayengey (DDLJ for abbreviation) was played featuring Bollywood superstars Shahrukh Khan and Kajol. A nice oldie to enjoy while travelling. The weather in Belgaum was becoming cloudy and i expected rain on road towards kolhapur, but soon as we approached Sankeshwar, the weather turned sunny, and bright. The NWKRTC Airavat VOLVO was cruising at a safe and decent speed of 70 kmph. Soon we crossed Tawandi ghat, at nipani towards Kolhapur.

The VOLVO entered kolhapur at around 6:05 pm, a delay due to heavy traffic on NH4 near Kolhapur and Kagal. It dropped few passengers at the Kolhapur entrance toll and headed towards CBS via Shivaji University and Kavla Naka.

As i am always entangled with some crazy ideas, i thought for an alternative for my return journey to Belgaum. I called Shantanu at the instant, he told he is already there at Mahalaxmi Chambers complex, where the NWKRTC VOLVO B9R stops for departure to Belgaum on its return. I told him to confirm if the KSRTC VOLVO B9R Airavat Club Class Multiaxle doing Kolhapur - Bangalore enters Belgaum on its way, as i made my mind to travel back to Belgaum on the White Cruiser. Shantanu confirmed me positive and i was in heaven.

At around 6:20 pm admist the busy Kolhapur traffic i finally reached Kolhapur CBS, and rushed to Mahalaxmi Chambers, hardly 50 meters to meet my friend, Shantanu. I met Shantanu and exchanged greetings, he wished me a happy birthday and soon we started sharing VOLVO moments as we often do. To be confirmed about my returned journey with the KSRTC Airavat Club Class, i went to the KSRTC travel house at the chamber to ask about the same. The person confirmed about the belgaum entry and the time of departure, which was at 7 pm in the evening.

Thereafter i met the Neeta VOLVO staff of the Neeta CBS office and they too greeted me for my birthday. I am closely associated with Neeta VOLVO and i am the administrator of the official Neeta VOLVO Kolhapur facebook page. Being well known to everyone in Neeta , i share friendly gestures with all their staff.

It was 6:30 pm , half an hour for departure back to Belgaum at 7 pm, i started feeling hungry and thought of enjoying some pav bhaji at the restaurant near to the Neeta booking office at Mahalaxmi chambers. As me and shantanu sat in the restaurant and ordered our favorite pav bhaji, Yaseen bhai, my friend who works for Neeta Kolhapur called me and said "Bhai, aajao aur Birthday cake cut lo" meaning come and cut ur Birthday Cake.

I was totally surprised, within no time they ordered a black forest cake for my birthday celebration. As pics explain more than words, here is what happened at Neeta VOLVO office :

MY BIRTHDAY CAKE FROM NEETA VOLVO KOLHAPUR

CUTTING THE BIRTHDAY CAKE AT NEETA VOLVO KOLAHPUR ALONG WITH YASEEN BHAI

CAKE FACIAL IN PROGRESS : YASEEN BHAI (NEETA VOLVO KOLHAPUR)

CAKE FACIAL IN PROGRESS : NAGESH BHAI (NEETA VOLVO KOLHAPUR)

CAKE FACIAL IN PROGRESS : SHANTANU GOKHALE (VOLVO FAN FROM KOLHAPUR)

With all the cake facials done to my face, i was wondering whether i will be able to go back to Belgaum that day. The Pav Bhaji was already left to have, the one that we ordered. After a face wash at the restaurant and having the tasty Maharashtrian Pav Bhaji, it was time to catch my VOLVO B9R back to Belgaum.

I bid goodbye to the Neeta Staff who made my day so special with all their love and care and soon headed towards Kolhapur CBS, from where the KSRTC Airavat Club Class VOLVO B9R Multiaxle departs. As we headed towards the boarding platform, the white cruiser was already on the platform and was ready for departure. It was around 6:50 pm in the evening, when i boarded the bus. I bid goodbye to shantanu as i sat on the allocated seat by the conductor. Tickets on this bus also electronically generated inside and also reservations can be made at the respective booking office. The one way ticket from Kolhapur - Belgaum was Rs 210/- which i found to be Rs 45/- less as compared to the journey i made on the same bus from Belgaum to Kolhapur once early morning. It was Rs 255/- then.

The bus departed at 7:05 pm from the CBS and halted again at Mahalaxmi chambers for a pick up, later it stopped at Kavla Naka again for pick up. Here is a pic of the bus from interior, from the seat in which i was seating behind the front row on the left :

KSRTC AIRAVAT CLUB CLASS VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE DOING KOLHAPUR - BANGALORE VIA BELGAUM

Soon we hit the NH4 highway towards Belgaum. The VOLVO was scheduled to stop at Hotel Kaveri, at Tawandi ghat, near Nipani for a dinner break, so i was preety much aware that the journey will take time. But its was fine for me as i was enjoying my VOLVO ride for a long time on my way back to Belgaum. With a Bollywood movie being played for entertainment, we soon reached Hotel Kaveri at around 8:10 pm for dinner, after crossing Maharashtra - Karnataka border at Kagal.

Here are some pics of the KSRTC Airavat Club Class VOLVO B9R that i clicked at Hotel Kaveri :

KSRTC AIRAVAT CLUB CLASS MULTIAXLE VOLVO B9R AT HOTEL KAVERI, TAWANDI GHAT, NIPANI

After a halt of 20 minutes, we started our approach to belgaum. At around 9:30 pm the white cruiser touched the service road at the entry to Belgaum city near Fort lake from NH4. At 9:45 pm i reached Belgaum CBT back after a wonderful to and fro VOLVO ride.

After getting down with a goodbye look to the Club Class : Sleep like a baby, i headed towards the parking for my vehicle and headed home.

The party was still alive, with mom prepared nice chinese chilli chicken for me for dinner

HOME MADE DELICIOUS CHILLI CHICKEN BY MY MOM FOR MY BIRTHDAY DINNER

After a nice and tasty dinner, it was time to hit the bed, as i was completely tired and exhausted by the day long VOLVO passion adventures.

At the end of the day i was happy and joyful to have spend a nice birthday with my passion for VOLVO amongst my friends and my craziest adventures that i do to fulfill my passion.

One should always do the things, which makes one happy. If you follow your passion, definitely you will be happy. Looking forward for a joyful birthday again in 2015 as i finish typing this blog post.

"Gracias"

Biswajit SVM Chaser

2 comments:

UnknownDecember 13, 2014 at 4:38 PM
Great (y) Even birthday wasn't this much special but would like to make my next birthday special like this :)
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Interviewed by New Indian Express

On 3rd of September 2014, i was being interviewed by The New Indian Express Newspaper, in Belgaum (Karnataka) about my hobby of clicking and sharing pictures of Scania, VOLVO and Mercedes benz Buses. On 4th of September 2014, The New Indian Express shared my interview and thoughts about the same in their Belgaum edition. It was one of the most happiest moments in my life. I was happy that my hard work paid off with a good public support. Click on the above The New Indian Express Logo to read my interview.

Interviewed by Times of India

On 2nd June, 2015, I was being interviewed by Times of India Newspaper, in Belgaum (Karnataka), about my hobby and passion of clicking and sharing pics, and technical information on Scania, VOLVO and Mercedes Benz Buses, Trucks and other Heavy Commercial Vehicles. On 7th June 2015, Times of India Hubballi (Hubli) edition shared my interview. Being interviewed and focused into limelight for the second time, was a matter of great honor for me and for my passion. I was not only happy to see the good wishes coming in from my friends and my professors in college. But the enormous support from the people of transport and vehicle manufacturing industry in India and nice public support, have really inspired me to go ahead with my entrepreneur goals in life. Click on the above Times of India logo to read my interview.

Interviewed by Vijayavani Karnataka

Vijayavani is a part of the prestigious VRL group of Karnataka, which has VRL Travels also a part of its empire. My passionate story of my passion for Buses and Heavy Commercial Vehicles was well written by Vijayavani and i would like to thank them from my core of my heart for highlighting me and keeping my story in front of people. My story getting published in Kannada is a matter of happiness for me. Reaching to the public of State of Karnataka is a great joy for me, as i feel its the State of Karnataka - the land of VOLVO and Scania which have helped me to stand on my foot with success and so much of support from general public. Click on the above logo to read my interview to Vijayavani