In an effort to provide comfortable long-distance travel at affordable prices, the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) has introduced a new fleet of Volvo buses. The government has officially announced the routes and fare structure for these buses, which are expected to compete directly with private luxury operators.The newly launched Volvo buses come with a 2×2 seating layout and can accommodate up to 51 passengers. They are designed to offer a pleasant travel experience with large panoramic windows, ergonomic driver controls, a curved.dashboard and a wide roof escape hatch to ensure quick evacuation during emergencies.
In terms of safety, the buses are equipped with modern protection systems including FUP, FIP and SUPD, which help reduce impact in the event of frontal, rear or side collisions.
In the first phase, 20 Volvo buses will be introduced across key routes. Services will operate on Chennai–Madurai, Chennai–Tirunelveli, Chennai–Tiruchendur, Chennai–Tiruppur, Chennai–Bengaluru, Chennai–Tiruchirappalli, Chennai–Coimbatore, Coimbatore–Bengaluru, Chennai–Nagercoil, Chennai–Thanjavur and Chennai–Salem routes.
The fares have been fixed at competitive levels to attract more passengers. Ticket prices include ₹575 for Chennai–Salem, ₹565 for Trichy–Chennai, ₹790 for Chennai–Madurai, ₹735 for Chennai–Bengaluru, ₹770 for Coimbatore–Bengaluru, ₹800 for Chennai–Tiruppur, ₹880 for Coimbatore–Chennai, ₹1,080 for Chennai–Tirunelveli, ₹1,115 for Chennai–Tiruchendur and ₹1,215 for Chennai–Nagercoil.
With enhanced comfort, strong safety features and comparatively lower fares, the new SETC Volvo fleet is expected to provide passengers with a reliable and cost-effective alternative to private bus services.