Damodar Group is strengthening its position in India’s bus and coach industry with a focus on innovation, safety, premium mobility and advanced manufacturing. At Prawaas 5.0, the company showcased two major products, RUDRA PRO AMT, built on the BharatBenz 1926 AMT chassis, and RUDRA VYOM, described as India’s first ARAI-certified 15-metre sleeper coach. The company is also expanding its manufacturing capacity and preparing to enter the electric bus segment. In an interaction with Bus Coach India, Dinesh Sharma, Managing Director, Damodar Group, spoke about the company’s growth journey, safety approach, capacity expansion, investment plans, electric buses and the evolving expectations of fleet operators.
Q. When did you start the business, and what was the main purpose behind it?
Dinesh Sharma: It is a family business and we are now in the third generation. My father started the business in Goa, and later we moved to Bengaluru in 2009. We started our present business in 2016-17 and have expanded it significantly since then. Earlier, we were producing around 10-12 coaches a month. Today, we are manufacturing around 50-60 buses and sleeper coaches. We have built a strong reputation for quality and service, which has created considerable demand for our products. At present, there is a significant gap between demand and supply, but we continue to do our best to meet customer requirements.
Q. Passenger safety has become a major concern, particularly with the increasing number of bus fire incidents. What is Damodar Coach’s focus in this area?
Dinesh Sharma: Safety has always been a major focus for us. We were involved with the committee when the bus code for sleeper buses was being developed in India. We have also obtained certification from the Automotive Research Association of India, or ARAI, which is one of the country’s most trusted certification bodies. When it comes to safety, we have tried to take a proactive approach. With the increasing complexity of BS-VI technology and the electrical systems used in modern buses, wiring is a critical area. We have our own dedicated wiring harness plant where we manufacture the harnesses. We follow a coupler-to-coupler jointing system and avoid small, unnecessary joints. This helps improve the reliability of the electrical system and reduces potential safety risks.
Q. What are your plans for increasing production capacity?
Dinesh Sharma: At present, we are producing around 50-60 buses and sleeper coaches. We are now setting up a new plant, which we expect to make operational within the next one to one-and-a-half years. Once the new facility becomes operational, our capacity will increase to around 100-125 buses. The new plant will significantly strengthen our production capabilities and allow us to cater to the growing demand.
Q. How much are you planning to invest in the business over the next few years?
Dinesh Sharma: Overall, we are looking at investments of around Rs 500 crore in the coming period, including research and development and expansion. We are also looking at the possibility of an IPO in the future. Alongside our conventional bus business, we are preparing for the transition towards electric mobility.
Q. What are your plans for electric buses?
Dinesh Sharma: We are planning to enter the electric bus segment. Our objective is not just to assemble electric buses, but to develop our own product with our own powertrain. We expect electric buses to become an important part of our business over the next six to eight years. We are already working towards developing the necessary technology and capabilities.
Q. Batteries remain one of the biggest challenges for electric buses. How do you see this issue evolving?
Dinesh Sharma: There has been a significant change compared with the past. Earlier, batteries were extremely expensive, but the situation is improving. Imports have also become easier and the overall ecosystem is developing. The Make in India approach is another positive development because more components and technologies are now being manufactured domestically. This will help the electric vehicle industry become more competitive and sustainable.
Q. How many manufacturing facilities do you currently have?
Dinesh Sharma: We currently have three plants in operation and another plant is coming up. The new facility will be a large plant with an investment of around Rs 200 crore. It will support different platforms, including conventional as well as electric buses. Our R&D activities are based at our head office, where we are continuously working on new products and innovations.
Q. What is your approach towards new technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing?
Dinesh Sharma: We are closely watching developments in technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. However, some technologies are not yet completely feasible for the Indian bus-building environment. The bus body-building industry cannot become completely robotic because a significant amount of work still requires manual operations. Even global manufacturers such as Volvo continue to use manual processes in certain areas. That said, we can certainly streamline and automate selected processes wherever it makes technical and commercial sense. As the technology matures and becomes more suitable for the Indian environment, we will adopt it. AI is already becoming increasingly important, and we will continue to evaluate its applications across our operations.
Q. Damodar Group showcased RUDRA PRO AMT and RUDRA VYOM at Prawaas 5.0. What was the response from the market?
Dinesh Sharma: Prawaas 5.0 was an excellent platform for Damodar Group to showcase our latest innovations and engage with fleet operators, OEMs, financiers and industry stakeholders from across the country. The event generated an excellent business response for us. We received strong enquiries from both existing customers and new fleet operators from different parts of India. The event resulted in several promising business opportunities and order discussions that are progressing towards commercial closure. For us, the objective was not only to showcase our latest products, but also to understand evolving market expectations and reinforce Damodar Group’s commitment to innovation, engineering excellence and quality manufacturing.
Q. What are you seeing in terms of changing customer expectations?
Dinesh Sharma: One of the biggest takeaways from Prawaas 5.0 is that the industry is rapidly moving towards safer, smarter and more premium mobility solutions. Fleet operators are increasingly looking for vehicles that offer enhanced passenger comfort, improved operational efficiency, advanced safety features, regulatory compliance and lower lifecycle costs. We are also seeing growing interest in AMT-based coaches. Operators are increasingly recognising the advantages of AMT technology in terms of reduced driver fatigue, a smoother driving experience and improved productivity. The response to RUDRA PRO AMT has reinforced our view that this segment has considerable potential.
Q. Finally, what is your broader vision for Damodar Group?
Dinesh Sharma: Our focus is to continue building products that combine modern design, robust engineering, premium build quality, stringent safety standards and dependable after-sales service.
We want to strengthen customer confidence through quality, timely delivery, transparency and long-term relationships. At the same time, we will continue investing in innovation, engineering, manufacturing capabilities and electric mobility. The objective is to develop future-ready mobility solutions that meet the changing requirements of the Indian bus and coach industry.