The Tamil Nadu State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) marked a major milestone in premium public transportation with the inauguration of 20 new Volvo 9600 luxury coaches. The buses were officially flagged off by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, at Island Grounds, Chennai.
The introduction of these 15-metre, fully air-conditioned seater coaches underscores the Tamil Nadu Government’s commitment to upgrading intercity travel by offering improved comfort, safety, and reliability for long-distance passengers. The launch event was graced by several senior leaders and officials, including SS Sivasankar, Hon’ble Minister for Transport; PK Sekar Babu, Hon’ble Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments; Shunchonngam Jatak Chiru, IAS, Principal Secretary, Transport Department; R Mohan, Managing Director, SETC; T Prabhushankar, IAS, Managing Director, Metropolitan Transport Corporation; Dayanidhi Maran, Hon’ble Member of Parliament; and Priya Rajan, Hon’ble Mayor of Greater Chennai Corporation.
The deployment of the new fleet reflects the state’s continued focus on modernizing government-operated transport services while enhancing the overall travel experience for passengers. Built at Volvo Buses India’s advanced manufacturing facilities, the Volvo 9600 represents the latest offering from Volvo in the Indian market.
Each coach features a premium 51-seat layout, designed specifically for long-haul intercity journeys. Passenger comfort has been prioritized through ergonomically designed seats with calf support, along with advanced safety features and superior ride quality. The buses are engineered for dependable performance, aligning with SETC’s aim to raise service standards across its network.
Speaking at the event, Suresh Chettiar, Executive Vice President – Bus Division, VE Commercial Vehicles, said the company was pleased to support SETC and the Government of Tamil Nadu in strengthening the state’s intercity transport system. He noted that the Volvo 9600 coaches are designed to deliver high levels of comfort, safety, and operational efficiency, helping elevate expectations for public bus travel in the region.
The newly inducted coaches will serve several important intercity and interstate routes, including Chennai–Coimbatore, Chennai–Tiruppur, Chennai–Salem, Chennai–Thanjavur, Chennai–Trichy, Chennai–Nagercoil, Chennai–Thiruchendur, Chennai–Bengaluru, Coimbatore–Bengaluru, and Trichy–Thiruchendur.
Volvo Bus India operates under VE Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV), a joint venture between the Volvo Group and Eicher Motors Limited. Established in August 2008, VECV encompasses Eicher trucks and buses, Volvo Buses India, the exclusive distribution of Volvo Trucks in India, engine manufacturing and exports for the Volvo Group, non-automotive engines, and Eicher’s components business. With its multi-brand and multi-division presence, VECV continues to play a key role in advancing modern commercial transportation across India and other emerging markets.
