Guwahati: Long distance travel in Assam is set to get more comfortable and luxurious with the introduction of two new Volvo multi-axle buses, which will be run by private operator John Travels under the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) in public-private-partnership (PPP) mode.

The Volvo B-11R multi-axle I-shift buses, procured by John Travels at Rs 2.8 crore, were inaugurated by ASTC managing director Anand Prakash Tiwari at the Paltan Bazar terminus on Saturday. This is the first time ASTC is operating multi-axle buses.

The buses will run from the inter-state terminus here to Digboi, an overnight journey of about 500km, to be covered in around 10 hours. The buses will leave here at 8.20pm. The return journey from Digboi will start at 7pm. The Guwahati-Digboi fare is Rs 910.

Inaugurating the buses, Tiwari said, "I am happy to flag off the first multi-axle Volvo buses to be operated by the ASTC in a PPP mode with John Travels. Since January this year, the ASTC has started super luxury services to various places in Assam and the number of such vehicles has been increasing. We welcome more local entrepreneurs to start similar luxury services and will extend all possible assistance to them."

Tiwari said they would start Mercedes luxury bus service from next month.

John Travels owner Pranjal Dutta said, "The new buses will have leg-rest pillow and neck cushions. They have comfortable seats, larger and higher in size than the regular seats. The 2x2 seating pattern will provide more leg space. We will offer complementary water bottles. The bus has two television sets, switch panels to alert bus conductors, mobile charging USB points in each row, fire extinguisher and other state-of-the-art facilities."