Ashok Leyland Luxura Magical India: A Private Jet Based Bus Launched

Ashok Leyland and Toofles Foundation have together rolled out Luxura Magical Bus which has been designed by DC Designs. The launch event of the luxurious bus took place yesterday at Park Hotel, New Delhi. Luxura Magical India Bus is reportedly a unique concept being introduced in India for the first time. The bus has been developed under a joint-venture of Ashok Leyland, DC Designs, Toofles Foundation and Mann travels. Ashok Leyland is the 4th largest bus maker in the world, while Toofles Foundation is charity foundation. The motive behind this project is to help the two charity partners Goonj NGO and Cancer Institute, Chennai. The bus will be operated by Mann Travels, a renowned name in the tourism industry with 250 cars in their fleet, while the Park Hotel is the hospitality partner.

Mr. Dilip Chhabria, founder of DC Designs, said that the design of the bus is inspired by private jets. It comes with facilities like on-board spa, galley to serve hot and cold food and beverages, Wi-Fi enabled entertainment system and a washroom, with a total seating of 9 passengers. DC Designs has re-designed the front and rear bumper, dash board and the interiors of the bus. DC Designs is known for designing vanity vans and car lounges, for the likes of the Bollywood fraternity. Thier clients include Sanjay Dutt and Shahrukh Khan.

"The amazing luxury bus has been modeled on the lines of a private jet. It is proven beyond doubt, if you are able to offer luxury, entertainment much cheaper than a private jet, I'm sure it will multiply as people would come to know," said Chhabria.

On a question about the expansion of the project, Madhabi Puri Buch, the founder of Toofles Foundation says, “We have only one Luxura bus as of now but have plans to increase their numbers. We have already five family bookings, for later this month; we envisage more family bookings, business trips and exclusive foreign guests."

Mr. Vinod Dasri, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland said, “Ashok Leyland is delighted to be a part of this project with its core values of innovations in design, focus on the customer and delivery with a social conscience. We want that other hotels, companies adopt this project. It’s a very unique concept and they can make money out of it along with this noble cause.”

There came no confirmation on price front of Luxura, though the tariff to hire the bus is Rs. 30,000 per day in New Delhi, of which 50 per cent will go to charity partners, Goonj and the Chennai-based Cancer Institute. Mrs. Paramjeet Mann of Mann Travels says, "We have been operating with expertise in the field of tours and travels, I wanted to grab the opportunity to operate this project because of the social angle, where we can give for a noble cause."

Dr. Manoj Sharma of the Cancer Institute, Chennai, said, "People have to come and see the sufferings of the family in the Cancer Institute, it’s good to receive a bit of cut from extravagant expenditure for a humanitarian cause.” The Cancer Institute, Chennai, provides free treatment and medicines to the poorest of the poor cancer patients. Goonj, the other charity partner, is an organization works for the basic need of needy people across the country, with a special focus on clothing as a basic but unaddressed need in the country. Goonj distributes over 1000 tones of clothing every year to 21 states.