Crew Interactions - Rajesh Kumar (SRS)

Rajesh Kumar, aged 39, is a Volvo Bus Crew member for SRS Travels Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru. Rajesh hails from Bihar and started his driving profession in 2012, driving Tata and Ashok Leyland coaches in his native state. With a driving experience of more than 20 years, Rajesh entered the premium bus segment with Gaurav Luxury Travels, Patna in 2012. Gaurav Luxury is a bus fleet operator in the state of Bihar and their premium segment coaches run in joint venture with BSRTC (Bihar State Road Transport Corporation). Soon Rajesh decided to move down South to Chennai, where he joined Olivea Travels. 

RAJESH KUMAR, CREW - SRS VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE

Speaking on his experience, Rajesh said, "I soon started to feel the difference in the South Indian bus market, which is much more organized than our market in North. I continued working for Olivea Travels till 2013." In mid 2013, he joined SRS Travels and is currently employed the company. Rajesh was deployed on Bengaluru - Hyderabad route initially and currently he is driving a Volvo B9R multiaxle coach on Bengaluru - Belagavi route. 

Upon being asked about the premium bus fleet operators in his native Bihar, Rajesh told, "Bihar market is dominated by Tata and Ashok Leyland buses, with Seater cum Sleeper coaches being very popular amongst passengers. Gaurav Luxury and Pummy Travels from Jharkhand (Ranchi) are some of the sustainable operators there." Citing the issues of fleet maintenance, Rajesh told that the availability of spare parts is an important reason of tata and ashok leyland getting a huge market in North. Although there is a Volvo workshop in Dhanbad, Jharkhand but due to the market and maintenance cost, the fleet operators in the region are adhering to their strategy of going for the Indian based manufacturer. 

"South India has a good network of multi-laned highways with better maintained buses making driving safe and travelling comfortable and luxurious for the passenger. Although there is a sign of development in North with 4 lane road infrastructure, but still it will take time for things to get in order", added Rajesh. He further stated timely maintenance of the buses and coaches as one of the main usp's of the bus fleet operators in South, which helps them to keep a sustainable growth in revenue and costs. Upon asked on his future plans, he showed optimism in his growth working with srs travels. He stressed on the need of providing good shelter and rest rooms and toilet facilities at the bus parkings or at end - destinations to the bus crews on part of the operator. "A lot need to be improved in general for providing good shelter facilities to bus crews, as you find most the crews sleeping in the luggage compartment of the coaches, in bus parkings. The overnight journey makes the driver tired and drowsy, if he dont get proper shelter to rest, it affects his health and even leads to problems for the next trip. As you know there have been incidents with drivers meeting accidents with improper sleep and rest sometimes. Its a matter of concern, as the driver have responsibilities of 40 - 45 odd passengers with them on board, and hence proper basic amenities are a necessity for the driver in charge of the coach in parkings", told rajesh before concluding.