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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.
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Orange Travels inducts B11R Celeste Multiaxle Sleeper into its fleet

11:30:00 PM Biswajit SVM Chaser 2 Comments

Orange Travels Telangana have inducted two new Volvo B11R Celeste Multiaxle Sleeper into its fleet recently. The new 2+1 Sleeper Coaches are heard to be scheduled on Hyderabad - Delhi route from 26th April 2018.

Here are some pics of the coach before its delivery at Prakash Bus Corporation, Bengaluru

ORANGE VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT CELESTE MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
ORANGE VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT CELESTE MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
ORANGE VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT CELESTE MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
ORANGE VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT CELESTE MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
ORANGE VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT CELESTE MULTIAXLE SLEEPER

Digital Route banner regarding the Hyderabad - Delhi Service have been updated on the Orange Travels Website 

For Online Booking and more Information, Log in : https://www.orangetravels.in

DIGITAL ROUTE BANNER ON ORANGE WEBSITE

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Ratnagiri Travels inducting Bharat Benz G-Dolfino for its Assam Operations

7:53:00 PM Biswajit SVM Chaser 0 Comments

Ratnagiri Travels from Assam is all set to include G-Dolfino model of Bharat Benz Coaches in its fleet. The buses are said to be operational soon on Guwahati - Golaghat route in Assam. 

Buses of Assam Page and its admin Mr Rahul, have shared some pics of the coach 

Pic Courtesy : Buses Of Assam (Rahul S Assam)

RATNAGIRI BHARAT BENZ AC SEATER- G - DOLFINO
RATNAGIRI BHARAT BENZ AC SEATER- G - DOLFINO
RATNAGIRI BHARAT BENZ AC SEATER- G - DOLFINO
RATNAGIRI BHARAT BENZ AC SEATER- G - DOLFINO

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Bull HD 76 Backhoe Loader at Excon 2017

9:43:00 AM Biswajit SVM Chaser 0 Comments

Bull HD 76 is a world class backhoe loader maintaining highest efficiency, operator comfort and safety parameters with ROPS and FOPS accreditation. The HD 76 is available in 2WD and 4WD variants. The Bull HD 76 has carraro transmission with integral torque convertor. 

Info Source : Bull India

The Bull HD 76 was showcased at Excon 2017 at Bull India Hub : 

BULL HD 76 BACKHOE LOADER AT EXCON 2017
BULL HD 76 BACKHOE LOADER AT EXCON 2017
BULL HD 76 BACKHOE LOADER AT EXCON 2017

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[Journey Review] ASTC Volvo B11R I-Shift Multiaxle : Digboi - Guwahati

12:06:00 PM Biswajit SVM Chaser 0 Comments

ASTC VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT CLICKED BY ME AT KHANAPARA, GUWAHATI 
Operator : ASTC (Assam State Transport Corporation)

Category : Volvo B11R I-Shift Multiaxle Semi Sleeper Coach

Regd Number : AS01 JC 9795

Journey Route : Digboi to Guwahati [Margherita to Guwahati] 

Road Distance : 521 Kms

Date of Journey : 30th March 2018

Departure (ASTC Digboi Bus Stand) : 19:15 hrs

Arrival (Guwahati ISBT) : 05:30 hrs

Amenities : M-Ticket Supported, USB-Charging Point, Movie Entertainment, Reading Lights, CCTV Security

Fare : Rs 971/- (including GST) 

Ticket Booking Portal : Redbus 



Journey Scheduling and Booking : 
After a nice memorable onward journey from Guwahati to Digboi on ASTC B11R Multiaxle, to experience the Volvo multiaxle coach ride on roads of Assam, it was now time for the return journey back to Guwahati. With my return ticket done at Guwahati, on Redbus platform, i was suppose to board the coach on 30th March from Digboi ASTC Bus Stand with departure time scheduled at 19:15 hrs (07:15 pm). I booked seat numbers 1 and 2 on the first row behind the coach driver (Seat number 1 and 2 encirled in red in the layout shown below).

SEATING LAYOUT OF ASTC VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT SEMI SLEEPER COACH

Journey Day :

It was the journey day on 30th March 2018. I boarded a transit auto-rickshaw from my hotel, close to Digboi ASTC Bus Stand in the evening. I reached the departure point at 18:45 hrs, 15 minutes before the scheduled reporting time at 19:00 hrs, The ASTC Bus Stand at Digboi has an old small operational office. It was inaugurated in the year 2002 byShri R Dhanowar, Ex Honorable Minister of Excise, Assam. 

FOUNDATION EMBLEM OF ASTC DIGBOI BUS STAND
Our ASTC B11R starts its journey from Margherita, a small town in Assam, around 18 kms from Digboi. While waiting for my bus back to Guwahati, I met one of my known crews from John Volvo, Mr Goswami, with his B7R parked at the Digboi Bus Stand premises. After a short chat, Goswami left with his coach for his scheduled pick up on way to Guwahati, and i waited for my multiaxle coach to arrive. 

ME WITH MR GOSWAMI, CREW - JOHN VOLVO B7R MARK 3
At around 19:13 hrs, the B11R arrived from Margherita at Digboi ASTC Bus Stand, AS01 JC 9795 had one of my known crew, Mr Joga Singh, who hails from Punjab and is currently driving in ASTC under PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode. We boarded the coach, after keeping our luggage in the luggage compartment and took our designated seats in the first row of the coach. Soon our coach departed, leaving Digboi town limits, on our way to Guwahati. The road stretch upto Makum seemed quite good, before we took the diversion to Tinsukia, at the Makum Railway Crossing. The bus had a less passenger-load on-board from Margherita, and we were the only passengers boarding from Digboi. We reached Tinsukia at 20:00 hrs, at the ASTC bus stand located in the heart of Tinsukia Town. I met Mr Sazid from ASTC Tinsukia Division here, who had contacted me while i was in Digboi, to meet me personally at Tinsukia, on my way back to Guwahati. Mr Sazid, is one of my blog followers and appreciates my work. I would like to thank him, for all the support and best wishes. After a small conversation with Mr Sazid, and the regular passenger pick up at Tinsukia, we restarted our journey hitting NH37, which was fairly maintained 2-lane single road, on way to Dibrugarh.

We reached Dibrugarh, at around 21:45 hrs. There was passenger pick up here. Dibrugarh gets a lot of passengers for Volvo Coaches as i was told by many sources. I could see a good number of people boarding from Dibrugarh. Leaving Dibrugarh, we were suppose to halt at a dinner break at Sepon, Moran. When we reached at the hotel  for the dinner break, the bus crew noted that the parking was full and no space was left for this bus to park at the hotel. The authorities too didnt seem to co-operate. The bus crew decided not to halt at the hotel for dinner break and they moved on. The crew seemed confused about the other alternative for dinner break and they started calling their controller for alternate options. Soon we crossed Sibsagar and Jorhat, but the crew didnt stop for the dinner break nor for proper bio-break. I was hungry, but since i felt sleepy, i dozed off to sleep, to wake up near Kaziranga. The highway stretch here is better and well maintained than the Upper Assam stretch. We soon overtook some 2+1 coaches of Network and Blue Hill Travels. It was around 02:40 hrs in the morning. I had some cookies, which i generally carry while i undertake long journeys on buses. The factory fitted front sunscreens were pulled down, due to which there was no healdlight glare of the incoming traffic, which i felt during the onward journey on the other coach, to Digboi. The highway being a 2-lane single road, the headlight glare of the incoming traffic causes problem for not only to the driver of the coach but also for the front row passengers, in case there is no curtain shield. Finally at around 03:00 hrs, early morning, the B11R coach stopped at a hotel at Jakhalabandha - the same hotel where we had a dinner break during our onward journey to Digboi. 03:00 hrs in the morning seemed too odd to have anything for dinner, as it was no more dinner time. Passengers looked in a complaining mood, and most of them complained the driver of the coach in regards to the same. The driver crew seemed to be without any proper answers. This is a major lapse on behalf of ASTC regarding the passenger service on-board the coach. They should have thought about the appropriate dinner time and could have managed to stop at some alternate hotel or restaurant for the dinner break near Moran or Sibsagar. While they kept the passengers hungry, they didnt even cared to stop for a proper bio-break, keeping in mind there were lady passengers on board too.

ASTC VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE SEMI SLEEPER AT JAKHALABANDHA, ASSAM
ASTC VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE SEMI SLEEPER AT JAKHALABANDHA, ASSAM
After half an hour break at Jakhalabandha, we headed towards Guwahati again. The road stretch on NH37 was fairly good, till we reached Nagaon bypass from where the 4-lane highway starts to Guwahati. We overtook the Digboi John Volvo B7R near the bypass. We crossed Jagiroad at the break of dusk, cruising finally to climb the Jorabat hilly terrain in the morning. The climate outside seemed cold as it there was heavy rain, the night before. The greenary of the picturesque Jorabat Hills bordering Meghalaya welcomed me early morning to Guwahati.

ASTC VOLVO B11R CRUISING THROUGH THE 4 LANE JORABAT HIGHWAY SECTION
The overall driving of Mr Joga Singh, looked sedate and well skilled. We reached Khanapara, crossing the Shillong diversion at around 06:00 hrs followed by the Digboi origin John Volvo B7R. There was a passenger drop at Khanapara, as we headed towards Guwahati ISBT, the final drop point at Guwahati. We got down at Guwahati ISBT at 06:15 hrs., after 11 hours journey since we boarded the coach at Digboi, covering 521 Kms. I bid goodbye to my known crew before boarding my Uber-X to home. It was a good end to the to-and-fro ASTC Volvo B11R Journeys between Guwahati - Digboi - Guwahati, with a pleasant experience of travelling again on the roads of Assam after almost a decade.

Summary and Ratings :

Crew : Well behaved Crew. Expected them in uniform, I hope ASTC takes care that their crew must be in uniform. It cultivates a professional culture. The crew could have stopped at a convenient time for dinner break, during the journey. 3 am in the morning is insensible to stop for a dinner break. It was an utter negligence on part of the crew service from ASTC. The coach didnt even stop for a proper bio-break upto 3 am, keeping in mind there are lady passengers on the coach. Negative points for that. Rating : 2.75/5

Bus Maintenance : Well maintained B11R Multiaxle Coach. Excellent maintenance, both exteriors and interiors. Good decorum maintained inside the bus. USB charging ports kept 'ON' throughout the journey. I wish they will provide complimentary drinking water bottles and blankets soon for passenger convenience. Rating : 4/5

Speeding : Sedate and Safe driving at 60 - 70 kmph. No unrequired overtakes. No honking horns unnecessarily at night. Good use of deepers throughout the night journey. Rating 5/5

Overall Rating : 3.92 / 5

Conclusion and Feedback :

It was nice return journey experience on ASTC B11R multiaxle from Digboi to Guwahati. The only negative remark i have is about the awkward dinner break at 3 am at Jakhalabandha, which was a total inconvenience caused to the on-board passengers. This is a lag on part of the crew service. I hope ASTC authorities will take this into account as a feedback, so that such unrequired incidents doesnt get repeated again. The journey was comfortable onboard the coach. Bus was well maintained with clean interiors.

Will I recommend the operator on this route : YES!! but provided dinner break is on time.

Thanks for reading my review.


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ASTC B8R 9695

9:17:00 PM Biswajit SVM Chaser 0 Comments

ASTC Volvo B8R Seater doing Dhubri - Guwahati Day Service arriving late evening at Guwahati ISBT

For Online Booking and more Information, Log in : https://www.redbus.in

ASTC VOLVO B8R SEATER

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ASTC B11R 9995

9:05:00 PM Biswajit SVM Chaser 0 Comments

ASTC Volvo B11R I-Shift Multiaxle Semi Sleeper doing Guwahati - Dhemaji getting ready for departure from Guwahati ISBT

For Online Booking and more Information, Log in : https://www.redbus.in

ASTC VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE SEMI SLEEPER
ASTC VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE SEMI SLEEPER

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SVR Volvo B9Rs in Assam

8:16:00 PM Biswajit SVM Chaser 0 Comments

Exteriors of SVR Volvo B9R Multiaxle I-Shift Semi Sleepers and Sleepers in Assam

SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLES
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLES
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLES
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLES
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLES
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLES
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLES
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLES
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLES

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SVR B9R Sleeper (Under ASTC) - Interiors

5:00:00 PM Biswajit SVM Chaser 0 Comments

SVR Volvo Multiaxles will hit roads under ASTC Operation on PPP (Public Private Partnership) very soon. SVR Volvo B9R Multiaxle Sleeper is stated to run soon on Guwahati - Digboi route soon, as told by SVR Sources. 

Here are some pics of the interiors of the coach. Amenities provided inside these coaches will be complimentary mineral water bottles and blankets. 

SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER

Driver's Console : 

SVR VOLVO B9R MULTIAXLE SLEEPER

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SVR B9R I-Shift Semi Sleeper (Under ASTC) - Interiors

4:08:00 PM Biswajit SVM Chaser 0 Comments

SVR Volvo Multiaxles will hit roads under ASTC Operation on PPP (Public Private Partnership) very soon. Two SVR Volvo B9R I-Shift (Auto Transmission) 2+2 Multiaxle Semi Sleeper coaches have arrived in Guwahati, and are expected to run on Guwahati - Dhemaji. 

Here are some pics of the interiors of the coach. Amenities provided inside these coaches will be complimentary mineral water bottles and blankets. 

SVR VOLVO B9R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE SEMI SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE SEMI SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE SEMI SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE SEMI SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE SEMI SLEEPER
SVR VOLVO B9R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE SEMI SLEEPER

Driver Console : 


SVR VOLVO B9R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE SEMI SLEEPER

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