New code will give small bus body builders a boost

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Implementation is likely to improve their efficiency and after-sales service

The nationwide implementation of a new code for bus body manufacturers from April 1 this year is expected to give SMEs in the organised sector a boost, not only in Punjab and Haryana, but across the country. According to industry estimates there are over 100-odd bus body builders in these two states, a majority of them in the SME sector.

According to the code, drawn up by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), all builders of bus bodies will have to obtain an accreditation certificate that will serve as proof of their capabilities and ability to adhere to safety norms. The implementation of the national bus body building code is being done to ensure that buses are built in accordance with the stipulated standards of safety, design and comfort.

Punjab and Haryana have some well-known bus body building firms with design, research and engineering capabilities, but the industry is dominated by unorganised builders ranging from small-scale units to makeshift factories and roadside garages. SMEs in the organised sector have equipped themselves to adhere to the norms.

The managing director of bus body builder JCB Ltd, Rishi Aggarwal, told Business Standard, “Implementation of the code will completely transform the industry and help it to get organised, which will be beneficial to all stakeholders. While bus body builders with developed infrastructure and advanced design and research capabilities will benefit considerably, implementation of the bus code will also encourage small players to restructure.”

Aggarwal added, “With a uniform code for buses, component makers can produce standardised material, which will lead to better efficiency and competent after-sales service. Most significantly, it will help provide comfortable and safe buses which will not only delight passengers but also help to decongest roads and lead to a greener environment by discouraging the use of personal vehicles.”

With a view to expanding its manufacturing footprint in the southern region, JCB Ltd recently inaugurated a new plant in Andhra Pradesh, set up in collaboration with a local partner. The plant has a manufacturing capacity of 2,000 buses a year. JCB Ltd makes buses, special application vehicles, election campaign vans, display vans, riot control vehicles and mobile homes.

Echoing similar sentiments, Managing Director Sutlej Motors Ltd Daljeet Singh, said: “Implementation of the code will help not only daily commuters but also manufacturers.” Sutlej Motors, whose plant is located at Jalandhar (Punjab), is one of the leading manufacturers of coaches and buses and application vehicles in India. The company produces luxury coaches, inter-urban buses, long distance buses, modern low-floor city buses, low-floor airport buses and mini buses.

Normally, original equipment vehicle manufacturers sell their products in the form of a drive-away chassis and the body is designed and built by organised and unorganised sector bus body builders.

“The bus body building code, which will be made mandatory from April 1 will eliminate small and unprofessional players who were not bothered about quality. The bus manufacturing industry will witness a total revamp in the years to come due to the implementation of standards in the country,” said Deepak Mishra, head of sales and marketing at Punjab-based Swami Coaches & Engineering (P) Ltd.