Chennai-based commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland Limited has bagged an order worth Rs4.8 billion for the supply of 825 buses to the Delhi Transport Corporation.

The flagship company of the Hinduja will supply 350 AC and 275 non AC buses by September 2009 to the corporation as part of its fleet modernisation initiative. This is the company's largest order from a state transport corporation, in value terms.

In a separate contract signed with the corporation worth Rs7.1 billion, the company has also undertaken to maintain the buses at special maintenance depots to be set up by it and train personnel like drivers and mechanics for a period of 12 years.

The drivers will be trained at the company's training institute at Burari, Near Delhi which has been set up jointly with the government of Delhi.

According to R Seshasayee, managing director, Ashok Leyland, the uniqueness of the order lies in the fact that Ashok Leyland has been contracted to offer a truly comprehensive urban transportation solution.

R K Verma, secretary cum transport commissioner and CMD DTC, said, ''We are happy that Ashok Leyland who had spearheaded the induction of CNG in our bus fleet, is now partnering us in our modernization drive. I am confident in Ashok Leyland's capabilities to offer us world class buses and provide the crucial long term support to ensure uptime''.

The new ULE buses are 12 meters long with 35 seats in 2x2 configuration and have a floor height of 390 mm for step-less entry. Passenger ride comfort is further addressed through a wide 1100 mm door and kneeling facility for easy entry and exit as also comfortable grab bars and air suspension. A retractable ramp is a disabled-friendly feature.

The buses are powered by a 230 hp engine. They are fitted with automatic transmission, speed limiting device and multiplex wiring. The chassis and the body for the fully-built buses will be manufactured at Ashok Leyland's Alwar plant which had rolled out the 3500 CNG bus chassis for spearheading the CNG induction in DTC.

The infrastructure at the Alwar plant has since then been upgraded to allow bus body assembly with a host of ultra-modern facilities like a cubic framing fixture, hydraulic automated paneling, conveyors for automation, body lifting mechanisms, paint booth and a shower testing facility.