Commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland Wednesday globally launched its 'JanBus' - a fleet of fully flat low-floor, single-step entry buses in Kolkata.

The company handed over 30 such buses to the West Bengal government during the day to mark the launch.

Company managing director Vinod K. Dasari said the 30 buses constituted the first instalment of the total 449 buses ordered by the state government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. Of them, 140 will be air conditioned.

"The company is gearing up to deliver 1,600 buses in phases to several states," he said.

Describing the buses as world class, Dasari said the company has taken 24 patents covering over 15 unique features.

State Transport Minister Madan Mitra said the government will purchase total 632 JanBuses for the city in the next few months.

Trasport Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay said the smart buses will be an incentive for car-owners to shun cars and use buses for comfortable journey. The government has earmarked Rs.500 crore for buying 850 latest technology buses, including 632 for the metropolis.

Manufactured in Alwar, the buses have many exciting features like multiplexing, passenger information system and vehicle tracking and infotainment system.

The single-step entry and low floor will be convenient for the aged and disabled people in particular.