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

ASTC VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT CLICKED BY ME AT GUWAHATI ISBT

Operator : ASTC (Assam State Transport Corporation)

Category : Volvo B11R I-Shift Multiaxle Semi Sleeper Coach

Regd Number : AS01 JC 9895

Journey Route : Guwahati to Digboi [Guwahati to Margherita]

Road Distance : 521 Kms

Date of Journey : 28th March 2018

Departure (Guwahati ISBT) : 21:00 hrs

Arrival (Digboi) : 06:30 hrs

Amenities : M-Ticket Support, USB-Charging Point, Movie Entertainment, Reading Light, CCTV Security

Fare : Rs 971/- (including GST) 

Ticket Booking Portal : Redbus

Journey Scheduling and Booking 

On 24th January 2018, ASTC (Assam State Transport Corporation) inducted the much awaited premium Volvo buses into its fleet at a grand inauguration ceremony held at ASTC Headquarters, located at Paltanbazar, in the heart of Guwahati City. I had the privilege to attend the inauguration function, along with higher ASTC officials. The inauguration of the premium Volvo buses was done by the Honorable Transport Minister of Assam, Shri Chandra Mohan Patowary, along with higher officials of the corporation, Shri Ashutosh Agnihotri, Chairman, ASTC and Shri Anand Prakash Tiwari, MD, ASTC. Five new Volvo buses under PPP (Public Private Partnership) model were inducted in first phase, which included three Volvo B11R I-Shift Multiaxles and two Volvo B8R Biaxle Coaches. These premium coaches comply with Bus Code norms and security and meet Euro 4 / BS 4 emission standards. 

With a pre-plan of undertaking a ASTC Volvo B11R Journey to Upper Assam on NH37 to review the bus journey, I finally decided a family trip along with my mother on 28th March 2018. I booked my tickets on the Redbus portal, selecting seats on the first row behind the coach driver (Seat Numbers 1 and 2 encircled in red in the seating layout shown below). My ASTC B11R Multiaxle had a scheduled departure at  21:00 hrs (9:00 pm) with boarding point selected at Guwahati ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminus). 

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

Journey Day : 

It was the Journey Day on 28th March 2018. I was enthusiastic about my first Volvo Journey in Assam. Having undertaken numerous Scania, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz Journeys in South India - My Work Sector, it was now time to experience these machines on my home ground of Assam. I took an UBER Cab from my residence near Down Town Hospital to Guwahati ISBT. A well driven Uber-X Sedan dropped me at Guwahati ISBT departure terminal, well before time at 20:15 hrs. 

ASTC VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE AT GUWAHATI ISBT BEFORE ITS DEPARTURE TO DIGBOI

After getting down at the entrance of the departure terminal, i headed towards the departure bay, at ASTC corridor of ISBT. Guwahati ISBT is the biggest Inter State Bus Terminus in North-East India and is regarded as one of the known Bus Terminus in the country, with dedicated Departure and Arrival bus bays, ASTC and Private Operator Bus ticket counters, Waiting rooms (Non AC and AC), Cafeterias and Restaurants, Eateries, ATM facilities, Cloak Room, Washrooms etc. My B11R coach to Digboi was scheduled to depart from one of the bays alloted between Bay No 1 - 10, as mentioned on my E-Ticket at the ASTC Corridor of ISBT. The final bay alloted was Bay No 2 at the corridor. As my journey was pre-planned with my known ASTC bus crew, Mr Harvinder, I was travelling with him that night. At 20:40 hrs (08:40 pm), the 13.8 mtr B11R Coach arrived at the terminal departure bay, five minutes ahead of reporting time of 20:45 hrs. Driving the coach was my known crew and friend, Mr Harvinder. As he halted the bus at the bay, Harvinder got down with a smile and greeted me. After putting my luggage in the luggage compartment, I took my pre-booked seat along with my mother on the first row of the coach at Seat number 1 and 2.  

FILE PIC : INTERIORS OF ASTC VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE

At 21:05 hrs, our B11R coach departed from Guwahati ISBT, a 5 minute departure delay due to delayed passenger arrivals. Soon the red beast Volvo B11R hit the Guwahati bypass crossing Lokhra and Basistha crossings. We faced a jam because of heavy trucks which commute on the bypass stretch on NH37 after 21:00 hrs. Soon we arrived at Khanapara for the last pick up, before leaving Guwahati City limits. Done with the last pick up, we were cruising on the Jorabat 4-lane stretch through curves and turns on NH37, along the Assam-Meghalaya border. Crossing the Shillong diversion at Jorabat, we headed towards Jagiroad. The NH37 highway is four laned upto Nagaon bypass. Although i felt the bumps on the highway stretch, it is considered to the best stretch of NH37 till date. We crossed Jagiroad and reached Nagaon bypass by 23:25 hrs, almost 2 hours, since we left Guwahati City outskirts. The road from Nagaon bypass onwards is a two-lane single road, which is pathetically in a very deplorable state. Maintaining a low average speed, we headed towards Jakhalabandha. A movie was played in the coach, which was switched-off at 00:00 hrs for passenger convenience. 

The reclinable semi sleeper seats with calf support in the coach were comfortable. The bus decorum was well maintained with clean interiors.  USB mobile phone charging ports were available in between the two seats in each row. The only amenities, i found missing, was the complimentary drinking water bottle and passenger blankets, which is generally not provided on any Air-Conditioned coach running in Assam and North-East. I hope ASTC will provide the same, sooner for the passenger convenience. The curtain screen between the Volvo cabin and the passenger seating area was missing, due to which the glare of the headlights of the vehicles from the incoming traffic was constantly disturbing the passenger on the front rows of the coach. There are factory fitted, pull down translucent screens placed above the cabin partitions on both sides, which were not used. They could have slightly block the disturbing light rays of incoming traffic headlights. NH37 being a two-lane single road on its 80 percent stretch upto Tinsukia causes a big inconvenience from the incoming traffic on this aspect. 

We stopped at Jakhalabandha at 00:30 hrs for the dinner break. It was midnight, we were accompanied by some other ASTC Hi-Tech Luxury Coach and other private coaches at the hotel praking area. Harvinder insisted me for dinner but since i generally eat less during my overnight journeys, I just had a cup of tea along with a tasty 'Bokakhat Peda' with him. I have a habit to talk to coach drivers and crew during my bus journeys regarding their driving experience and feedback. On being asked about the road condition of NH37 and running such premium coach on these pathetic roads, Mr Harvinder said, "The road condition is totally bad, and i guess it wont be repaired till the underway project of four-laning gets completed. It is difficult to drive a multiaxle coach on a single two-laned road due to incoming traffic, which increases the journey hours to reach the destinations.The road is still more deplorable near Jorhat and Dibrugarh, which you will experience on your ride tonight to Digboi." He smiled while having his tea. 

After finishing our cup of tea and the chit-chat at the hotel, we boarded the coach and started our journey for Digboi. The B11R was cruising at an average speed of around 50-60 kmph as it is impossible to speed up on the single two-lane highway under the bad road conditions with pot holes. Soon we were crossing the Kaziranga Animal Corridor. The road conditions at this stretch, seemed better, while the road had numerous speed breakers and rumble strips to slow down traffic. The NH37 highway to Upper Assam runs right through the animal sanctuary of Kaziranga, and there have been instances of wild animals getting injured and killed by speeding vehicles, while crossing the road at night. Precautionary measures of slowing down traffic was implemented as a result of the subsequent wild animal deaths. We overtook some coaches of Network, Blue Hill, Deep and other travels, while John Volvo gave stiff race to the B11R at some stretch on the highway. 

ASTC VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE OVERTAKING AN ASTC COACH NEAR KAZIRANGA

I felt sleepy, while i was jotting down a live journey review on my Android Tab, on the way. I dozed off to sleep near Bokakhat, after crossing Bagori, Kaziranga. I woke up nearly after 3 hours near Moran at dusk. Since dusk breaks early in North East at around 04:50 hrs at this time of the year, sun rises early. At around 05:00 hrs we reached Moran. I was travelling to Upper Assam, after a long interval of around 13 years. It was a nostalgic moment to watch the same areas where i use to travel during my childhood days. After dropping passengers near Moran, we headed towards Dibrugarh on way to Digboi. The view of the lush green tea gardens near Dibrugarh took me back to my childhood days in Upper Assam, when we use to enjoy travelling watching the greenary of the tea leaves and feeling the alluring aroma of the fresh tea leaves emanating from the on-way tea garden factories which use to process the tea leaves. It was an enthralling moment for me, while going back down the memory lane. 

LUSH GREEN TEA GARDENS OF ASSAM BESIDES THE NH37 HIGHWAY ON DIBRUGARH - TINSUKIA STRETCH

We entered Dibrugarh City at 06:11 hrs. Some passengers got down at Dibrugarh near Amolapatty and the coach headed towards Tinsukia. There was a delay of around one and half hours from the estimated arrival time of 06:30 hrs at Digboi. Now, we were scheduled to reach Digboi by 08:00 hrs. As we crossed Dibrugarh, the morning sunshine was making the natural look of the side by tea gardens more scintillating to look at. We reached Tinsukia at 07:15 hrs. I saw the Digboi bound John Volvo B7R dropping passengers and about to leave for Digboi at the same time. After a passenger drop at Tinsukia, we hit the highway again, through Makum, taking a railway crossing diversion towards Digboi. The Makum - Digboi highway is well maintained with scenic sideby paddy fields and small stretches of tea garden plantations. Finally at 08:05 hrs we entered Digboi township. We got down at the ASTC Bus Stop, Digboi where my family friend was waiting to pick me up. An almost 11 hour journey from Guwahati covering 521 kms approximately. I bid goodbye to the bus crew and my friend, Mr Harvinder, as my first Volvo B11R Multiaxle journey in Assam came to an end. It was a nice overall journey and enjoyed my ride thoroughly until next time for my return journey on the ASTC B11R from Digboi to Guwahati, after a day's halt at Digboi. 

ASTC VOLVO B11R I-SHIFT MULTIAXLE AT DIGBOI

Summary and Ratings : 

Crew : Very well behaved Crew. I expected them in an Uniform Since ASTC is a STU, i hope they will give uniform to the crew. Rating : 4/5

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

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

Overall Rating : 4.33/5

Conclusion and Feedback : 

It was a wonderful ASTC Volvo B11R Journey on roads of Assam. I wish the road condition of NH37 would be better soon after the four laning is completed. The better roads will be provide better driving conditions for the driver and will also give a better travelling experience to the passengers. The good multi lane roads will shorten the journey hours between Lower and Upper Assam districts in days to come. 

Will I recommend the operator on this route : A BIG YES!!

Thanks for reading my journey review... 

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