Conference Agenda

Driving the Future of Indian Bus & Coach Mobility — Innovation, Sustainability and Excellence

Conference Goal

India’s per-capita bus availability is just 1.2 per 1,000 people — against 6–8 per 1,000 in comparable countries. Under the patronage of Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari and Belgium’s Ambassador H.E. Mr. Didier Vanderhasselt, Busworld brings together OEMs, body builders, operators, suppliers, financiers, and policymakers to drive collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth across the bus ecosystem.

Day Agenda

Click any session to expand and see the theme, discussion points, moderator, and full panelist list.

08:00
Arrival
Registration with Welcome Tea & Coffee
Speaker
Vincent DewaeleCEO, Busworld International
Advisory Panel
Nishant AryaChairman, JBM Electric Vehicles (P) Ltd.
Akash PasseyPresident, ZF Group, India
Prasanna PatwardhanChairman & MD, Purple Mobility Solutions; President, BOCI
Theme: Transition to more sustainable energy adoption
Discussion Points
  • Incentivizing e-bus adoption / Green Fuels / Preparing for Euro VII
  • Charging and grid infrastructure
  • Financing models: OPEX vs CAPEX, PPP frameworks, fleet leasing
Moderator
ModeratorAkash PasseyPresident, ZF Group, India
Panelists
Nishant AryaChairman, JBM Electric Vehicles (P) Ltd.
Mahesh BabuMD, Olectra Greentech Limited
Venkat SrinivasExecutive Director & CEO, SML Mahindra
Anand SVP & Business Head, Tata Motors CV Passenger Business
Andamuthu PonnusamyVP, Head of Business, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles
Sukanta SahuHead, Bus Sales & Marketing, Switch Mobility
Mahua AcharyaFounder & CEO, INTENT
Vaibhav DangeCo-Founder, Build India Foundation
Theme: How is the e-bus market opening up to welcome new players
Discussion Points
  • Low entry barriers but established incumbents
  • Open market for technology which is continuously evolving
  • How do we differentiate?
  • Philosophy / approach / strategy
Moderator
ModeratorJan DemanExecutive Director, Busworld Foundation
Panelists
Sumit MittalCEO, JSW Greentech
Dr. Aanchal JainCEO, PMI Electro Mobility
Arathi K ParigiMD, Neuton Auto Pvt Ltd
Venkatesh ChallaDirector, Keto Motors
Vickrant MahajanE-Bus Director, VinFast India
Sanyam GandhiWhole-time Director, Chartered Speed Limited
Ankit SinghviCEO & Founder, NaArNi
Programme
  • Welcome and felicitation by Vincent Dewaele, CEO, Busworld International
  • Address by Anil Mohan Kamat, Chairman & MD, MG Group
  • Address by PATRON — Ambassador of Belgium to India, HE Mr Didier Vanderhasselt
  • Address by GUEST OF HONOUR — Minister of Industries, Commerce & Food Processing, Andhra Pradesh, Shri TG Bharath
  • INAUGURATION by CHIEF GUEST — Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, and other dignitaries
  • Address by Shri Gadkari
  • VVIP tour of the exhibition and buses on display
13:00 – 14:00
Break
Networking Lunch
Theme: Thought process of next-gen private fleet operators, aggregators and select PTAs
Discussion Points
  • Understanding how the bus-based public transport market has evolved
  • Leveraging data and technology to optimise fleet management
  • Understanding and resolving pain points
  • How can private operators, aggregators and PTAs work together for EV bus operations?
Moderator
ModeratorPrasanna PatwardhanChairman & MD, Purple Mobility Solutions Pvt Ltd
Panelists
Saurabh PatwardhanDirector, Purple Mobility Solutions Pvt Ltd
Prabhu SalageriExecutive Director, Vijayanand Travels Pvt. Ltd.
Harsh KotakMD, Modern Tours and Travels
Surya KhuranaMD, Flixbus India
Akram Pasha (IAS)MD, Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (TBC)
Manoj AggarwalaChief Business Officer, Redbus.in
Shatrughan KumarMD, Trans ACNR Solutions
Theme: Design, Comfort & Localisation
Discussion Points
  • The growing demand for premium intercity and tourist coaches
  • Innovations in lightweight and modular coach body structures
  • Passenger comfort, interior design, digital amenities, and connectivity
  • Enhancing partnerships between OEMs and coach builders
Moderator
ModeratorDr. Sudhir MehtaFounder & Chairman, EKA Mobility & Pinnacle Industries Limited
Panelists
Sivakumar V.President – Strategy & Sales, MG Group
K Srinivas ReddyMD, Veera Vahan Udyog Private Limited
Kanwal Preet SinghMD India & Head-Asia Pacific, Eberspaecher Suetrak India
AG GiridharanExecutive Director, CEO-SCS Domain, Uno Minda Limited
Veeresh ManraiGM Business Development, Southco India Private Limited
Harpinder SinghSr. Manager – Product Development, L&L Products
Buddhiraj DeshmukhCEO, TACO Air International Thermal System
16:00 – 16:20
Break
Hi-Tea
Theme: Addressing perhaps the most critical issue for the bus industry
Discussion Points
  • New AIS and CMVR standards for buses and coaches
  • Driver and technician training programs
  • Role of telematics in enhancing safety and compliance
Programme
  • 16:20 — Keynote Address by Tuhin Sinha, National Spokesperson, BJP: ‘Effective public-private partnership to promote road safety’
  • 16:35 — Panel Discussion moderated by Bhagwan Bindiganavile
Moderator
ModeratorBhagwan BindiganavileEVP – Strategic Planning, Brand & Communications, VECV
Panelists
KC SharmaDirector (Road Safety), Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Suresh ChettiarEVP & Head of VECV Bus Division
Dinesh SharmaMD, Damodar Group
Soumik UkilCEO, LightMetrics
Jalpa JainDirector, Aadinath Bulk Pvt. Ltd.
Amit ChhabraHead of OE & Institutional Sales, Apollo Tyres
Jaywant HardikarHead – CMVR, ICAT
C BalasubramanianCTO, Chemito Infotech Pvt. Ltd.
Shyam SundarProgram Manager, Trucks & Buses, Frost & Sullivan
Theme: How can the Indian bus industry create a secure ecosystem for sustainable EV bus deployment?
Discussion Points
  • Sourcing for e-mobility
  • Challenges for suppliers to invest in components for multiple-energy platform vehicles
  • Catering to Indian OEM export requirements
  • Imperative to fine-tune predictability of requirements
  • Busworld Plaza as an enabler
Moderator
ModeratorPawan MulukutlaExecutive Program Director – Integrated Transport, Clean Air & Hydrogen, WRI India
Panelists
JBM Sourcing Head(TBC)
Vinay JainMD, Masstrans Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Sachin NijhawanCOO, Vertelo
Ravin MirchandaniChief Dream Merchant, Quench
Vishwas R MoktaliHead – Strategic Business Development EV, Medha Servo Drives Pvt Ltd.
Himanshu VyasSr. General Manager, Manatec Electronics Pvt. Ltd.
Abhishek JainBeckyn Protocol (TBC)
Discussion Points
  • Recap of the day’s key insights and action points
  • Networking with delegates and industry partners
19:30 – 23:00
Evening
Networking Dinner