NEW DELHI: If you think the "people's car", the electric bikes, the hybrid cars were the answer to your prayer to get off of that bus and get into your own vehicle then rethink. 9th Auto Expo 2008 showcased a range of buses, which are intelligent, innovative, comfortable, economic and safe. Ashok Leyland, Swaraj Mazda, Tata Motors, Volvo, Force Motors aim to revolutionize buses so people can re-evaluate their options on public mode of transportation.

A team of 25 young engineers, 10 months from now started working on an Indian intelligent innovative bus and the end result is Ashok Leyland's iBUS exhibited in Pragati Maidan. For the first time in India, one can choose between traveling 'executive' or 'economy' class in the same bus. And if that is not enough, ibus has wireless Internet on the move for the first time in a bus.

Its other features are electronics-enabled 'workplace', complete with digital display of all 'diagnostic' information, rear camera video display, executive class passengers get a state-of-the-art hat rack complete with LCD wide screens (for infotainment), individual AC controls, Electrically Controlled Air Suspension (ECAS) kneels down for effortless boarding and alighting, 220v adapters and laptop holders, electronic leveling system to accommodate with the inconsistent Indian infrastructure, smart card based ticket wending machine.

In terms of safety, the bus has disc brakes with ABS, which ensures higher braking efficiency, rear collision warning system, doors with obstacle sensing system. Its 1.5-meter wide door- offered for the first time in India- is aimed at decongestion at bus stops during entry/exit, translating to lesser stopping time.

There are many 'firsts' in technology that together create a benchmark product in comfort and safety and iBUS certainly tops it. The fairs are likely to be higher in such buses, but in a fully AC bus with cutting edge technological applications, it's worth every penny. Fully loaded version will cost Rs.60 lakhs and runs on diesel.

For all the over eager passengers, there is another 3 months before it hits the market and the aggregate AMT will be in market in a year. Swaraj Mazda, is now moving from standard to luxury buses. Its Swaraj Prestige powered by Isuzu is a 41+1-seater. It gives a better average, has air suspension and engine 7 forward gears, is fully air-conditioned and an LCD wide screen. It was launched about 3-4 months back and is in production.

Besides this, other buses that are showcased. 6 are Swaraj Premier and Swaraj Executive. Tata Motors- India's largest passenger automobile and commercial vehicle manufacturing company- also showcased its 28-seater Tata Marcopolo bus and Air-conditioned Tata Marcopolo Low Entry Bus. Tata Marcopolo Motors Limited (TMML) is a joint venture between Tata Motors and Marcopolo.

The first landmark in TMML's BRTS is the sale of 525 ultra-modern, air-conditioned, low entry Starbus CNG buses to the Delhi Transport Corporation, in 2007. This bus is a combination of cool ride, safety-on-wheels, passenger-friendly and comfort inside out. Traveling by buses won't be a train wreck anymore. Volvo City Bus 8700 which was launched in February 2006 in running in Banglore, Chennai, Pune, Mysore. It is a low floor, fully AC bus.

It is meant for day to day traveling in cities. The aim is to provide people with a public mode of transportation which is safe, economic, comfortable and makes them chose a bus over a two wheeler, a three wheeler or a car.

This bus runs on diesel and cost nearly Rs. 77 lakhs. If issues of pollution, global warming, environment, traffic have to be addressed, the public mode of transportation needs to step up and provide facilities that people need and want. With the advancements in technology propelling them in that direction, these buses are trying to do just that. This auto expo was certainly not just about the people's car, it was about the people who are the customers and their needs are the guiding forces behind these developments.