LUXURY ON WHEEL BUS

Noted auto designer Dilip Chhabria's state of the-art bus with luxurious reclining seats for nine people, facilities like on-board spa with trained therapists, galley to serve hot and cold food and beverages, wi-fi enabled entertainment sysytem and a washroom, will flag off from New Delhi in two weeks. Popular Indian CV maker Ashok Leyland Ltd and Toofles Foundation launched the new Ashok Leyland Luxura Magical India Bus, which is said to be a unique concept being introduced for the first time in the country. Chhabria whose company had created the first prototype for the Aston Martin Vanquish that appeared in the James Bond movie 'Die Another Day' has also designed vanity vans for Bollywood stars such as Sanjay Dutt, Shah Rukh Khan. "The amazing luxury bus has been modelled 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. Except unfriendly "uplands" the bus is available for charter for any location for a day or for an overnight trip to Agra, Jaipur, Neemrana or any of the numerous travel destinations in and around Delhi. Tariffs for the bus have been designed according to market standards and to charter a bus from Delhi to Agra and return by evening would cost Rs 65,000. Mann Travels, with a fleet of over 250 cars in Delhi, are the operating partners of the project which has two charity charity partners along with Park Hotels, which is providing hospitality. The Luxura Bus will be contributing 50 per cent of the chartered fee to charity partners, 'Goonj' and Chennai-based Cancer Institute. "People have to come and see the sufferings of the family in the Cancer Institute, its good to receive a bit of cut from extravagant expenditure for a humanitarian cause," said Dr Sharma of the Cancer Institute who was present at the inauguration yesterday. 'Goonj', an organisation that highlights clothing as a basic but unaddressed need in the country channelises over 1000 tonnes of clothing every year to 21 states. "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," says Paramjeet Mann of the Mann Travels. Madhabi Puri Buch, the founder of Toofles Foundation says they 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," Madhabi adds.