The journey of Prawaas continues from where it left in the pre-pandemic world. Team CV gives you a low down on what you can expect.

The third edition of Prawaas is underway. Setting the tone for what public transport could look like in the coming years, over 3500 private bus operators are expected to descend at the Hitex exhibition centre in Hyderabad.  Looking to build on its 2019 Mumbai edition, Prawaas 3.0 will continue in the same vein. The theme of the India International Bus & Car Travel Show- Prawaas 3.0 is moving “Towards Safe and Smart Sustainable Passenger Mobility.” Organisers Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI), a National Apex body of Bus and Car fleet owners and operators are geared to host the largest gathering of its kind in the whole of South Asia. A testimony of its scale and participation over the years from its inception. Supported by the Ministry of Road Transport and Shipping ( MoRTH), it will look to attain newer heights with stakeholders of the CV industry in full attendance.

With recent advancements in technology and safety standards, the M&HCV sector, particularly buses and coaches, continue to be critical people movers. OEMs with their new product launches and an impetus on safety technologies and innovation with a service orientation will be closely watched. Following the pandemic, the bus industry, the hardest hit of them all is showing signs of an upward trend. Prasanna Patwardhan President of BOCI  said,  “I hope and pray that Prawaas 3.0 would prove to be a successful vaccine which would bring the Passenger transport sector out of its long overstretched dull period and generate new enthusiasm and fighting spirit amongst all the stakeholders.”  With new technologies and rules, Prawaas 3.0 is also supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

What all can be expected at Prawaas 3.0

• Most of the OEMs, fleet operators, get to meet the customers, also OEMs get a chance to showcase their products in flesh. With the recent launch of buses, a few OEMs such as VE Commercial Vehicles, Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors and SML Isuzu have already teased new launches. Akash Passey on the sidelines of the Volvo 9600 coach launch assured the buses would drive from the Hosakote plant in Bengaluru to participate at Prawaas for their official launch. Apart from these 13.5m and 15m sleeper coaches ( available in seater options too) expect key launches from Ashok Leyland as well. As far as the ancillary industry is concerned, watch out for the trends of using mobile refuellers from Repos energy. A few tracking devices from Aditi Tracking, and new advancements in onboard fleet management and safety solutions for night driving by Intel on display will draw attention of the visitors. More than 150 exhibitors will make a beeline.
• Tata motors is all set to display modern and sustainable products for last mile, intermediary, and the long haul mass mobility needs. The products on display are claimed to have lower TCO and score high on efficiency. Solutions such as fleet edge will be at the display for optimal fleet management among other useful tools for fleet operators, said Rohit Srivastava, Vice President, Product Line-Buses, Tata Motors.
  
• Bodybuilder MG Group, will further its ambition to blur the lines between an OEM and a bodybuilder. The company since showcasing its past stellar products has forayed into new business models like contract manufacturing said Anil Mohan Kamat, Managing Director, MG Group.
• Ancillaries like TKT Greentech Ltd. among other leading players will showcase HVAC solutions for both coaches and double-decker buses alike. It will also bring in refrigeration systems for RV Caravan, and truck air conditioning units. Three Wheeler Tricycle Refrigeration Units will be showcased as per Alok Srivastava, Managing Director, TKT Greentech Pvt. Ltd.
• Eberspacher is all set to unveil a new HVAC unit for electric buses as well as ICE vehicles, confirmed KP Singh, Managing Director, Eberspaecher Suetrak India.

Watch out for exclusive interactions with key industry players over the 5th and 6th. After all, it’s the journey that matters and not the destination!