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-   -   Intercity Buses operated by various private travels and STUs (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/commercial-vehicles/73526-intercity-buses-operated-various-private-travels-stus-22.html)

a lot depends on the driver also, this guy was driving it like a car, pushing the limits. If not for volvo's ESP, the bus would have toppled over at so many instances - was feeling scared, sitting in the front row, could not sleep.
Morover, he did CBE-EKM in 2hr45min. Flying low, was this man, but hats off to the AH-AHMAZING torque the B9R has, B7R totally pales in comparison. :)

Has anybody any review on this Paulo Travels Volvo from Goa to Chennai? I saw this bus whiz past me on my drive to Hosur. The bus was literally flying! I'm amazed at the distances these buses travel.

My friend traveled once. The bus was relatively old and left Madiwala only at 9.15am.

If I am not wrong, the Volvo buses in India do not offer ESP.

Regards,
Aalok

Kondody:

Kondody is one of the most reputed operator in central Kerala. They operate mainly to High Ranges. They have their own body building unit, probably the best in central Kerala. Kondody is actually a group of 4 different owners, operating under the same name. Some of their buses

1. Nedumkandam-Kumaly-Kottayam-Ernakulam FP
2. Fast (same group) Kottayam-Kumaly-Koottaar FP
3. Kottayam-Nedumkandam LS
4. Chellarkovil-Kottayam LS
5. Tata bus, Kottayam-Nedumkandam LS (spare bus)
6. Kottayam-Pachady LS
7. Kottayam-Nedumkandam LS
8. Kottayam-Cumbammettu LS
9. Kottayam-Cumbammettu-Balanpillai City LS
10. Changanassery-Kochara LS

The TATA kondody looks the best. I never knoew FAST was run by Kondody.

Theres a new Kondody Motors bus on the Kottayam-Kumily route. It's got glass windows and looks the best.I'll try to get photos of it. See it everyday in the morning going up to Kumily. A real beaut. :)

Aaah... Kondody...

At one point I knew every single Kondody leaving from Kottayam. I still track a few that cross my roads regularly. Earlier there used to be a Kondody Midland. What happened to them?

They were the first private bus operator (AFAIK) that started operations with two people. The first to introduce automated doors. Within their limits they do try and improve things.

Any idea which Tata chassis it is?

@smashnerd Please post the pictures.

i am not a fan of square head lights, but in this case, The squre head lights matches perfectly with the front design.

For all Kondody fans:

Beautiful... yes its a Tata. Choice School has recently bought a Kondody built 12 metre school buses. Its based on 1618 chasis. Too much power for a school bus? The window glass and foh look sexy on the bus

Well looking at the kind of operation and length this will most likely be a LP/LPO1512TC chassis.

Other than that I have to say its nice to see the manufacturer logo on the front of the buses.

I doubt whether its a 1512 TC. The power will be a little too less for most of the routes they ply. They were one of the first private operator to go for 150hp+ buses for their long distance buses some time ago.

But, then, I don't have a clue. Perhaps, as you said, it might be a 1512 TC.

Its not 1618 but a LPO1612, 6200WB chassis.

The present day 1512 is powered by 132Hp Cummins engine.
And which was that model (150hp+) they used as suggested?

True, the BSIII 1512s actually have 135hp engines and are available in many wheelbase options, between 4.2 and 5.9m. Even the older BSII models had 127hp. While the 16ton rated vehicles are available only in the 6.2m wheelbase.

Also was there ever a 150/160hp bus chassis from Tata, other than the present day BSIV ISBe powered 1616s??? I dont seem to remember any.

Also about that school bus, it may be good to look at, but I dont see it following the rules. I think school buses are supposed to have at least 3 railings along the windows to prevent children from putting their heads or hands outside the windows.