Prakash Body Construction (PBC) is a 67-year-old company that provides a wide range of products from luxury buses and executive coaches (sleepers and semi-sleepers) to compact series vehicles like ambulances, mobile display vans, etc. The Assam-based company at Nagaon has consistently set benchmarks in the luxury bus segment by introducing new features for passenger convenience and safety. Unique design features set PBC buses off from other coaches. The buses come with two tonnes curved, panoramic windshield, TATA tubular structure surrounding the vehicle and a significant “A” piller, which are their distinguished characteristics.
The journey of PBC started in 1949 with the first generation entrepreneur Sh. Moola Singh Rangila started manufacturing truck bodies for Tata Mercedes Benz and Punjab Trucks. The business was inherited by Devendra Singh Sehmi in 1983 and the company focussed on building bodies for Tata Trucks, and bus production was started. In 2001, the present Managing Director of the company, Gurpreet Singh Sehmi took over the charge of the company. PBC started building Tata 709 mini buses. It started vehicle modification and design work.
The company currently provides buses to premium fleet owners in Assam like Network Travels, Green Valley Travels, etc. It also provides buses to oil corporates like ONGC, GAIL, etc.
Mr. Sehmi says: “It was my childhood passion for buses which have helped PBC to evolve as a premium body builder in North East India, and at present I am providing buses to my clients throughout India.”
He feels that the bus market in Assam is not efficient, citing which he started his company website in 2006, a move that helped him reach customers globally and also aided in bagging export orders.
PBC exports bus seats, interior trims, glass window frame, headlight assemblies to countries in the Middle East and to Tanzania in East Africa. It imports vehicle accessories like components, wiring, wheel nubs from China under ARAI approval and uses them according to Indian bus standards.
Focus on variety and quality
PBC boasts of stalwarts in the Indian automobile industry, whose unparalleled commitment to customer satisfaction has won the group the trust of leading OEMs which are part of its burgeoning client list.
The group comprises of an impressive product portfolio which includes city and inter-city buses, mobile home/offices, luxury coaches, ambulances (ALS/BLS), Tarmac coaches for airlines, cargo boxes, election campaigning vehicles and special utility vehicles, apart from capability to manufacture GRP/FRP, complete seats and sheet metal components. In the intercity bus range PBC has compact series and luxury series coaches. The compact series coaches comprise models like Proton Series (Mini), Saavo Series and GXL Series.
The new PBC Proton II is setting new standards for medium-size buses in India. It has a well-balanced weight-distribution that facilitates large luggage compartment. Saavo series in the compact series segment is also a trend from PBC while the GXL series is aerodynamically designed with moulded FRP rear panel and front fascia. It comes with seating capacity from 31+1+cockpit. This model is good for work load.
In the luxury series coaches, the Proton and Saavo Series are the offerings from PBC. Unique designed features and high quality sets Proton apart from other coaches in its class. Proton is also ideal for long-distance travel and for maximum work load. While Saavo Series in luxury segment offers passenger comfort a top priority and is an exquisite touring coach. PBC also offers the Proton model on Tata 1109 chassis which is aerodynamically designed and comes with tuff and rigid Tata structure and also with elegant seating arrangements.
PBC says it has included a new model called the “Leader Series”, which it believes will offer stiff competition in the industry. It has built buses for Maa Travels on Leader Series. PBC school buses ranging from Tornedo, Eco and Proton Exe are designed to provide a world of safety and comfort to school children.
Mr. Gurpreet Singh adds: “Our dedication to manufacture the most innovative, reliable and safest school buses has made us the leader in the industry. All our buses are aesthetically and ergonomically designed with strict adherence to global standards, assuring a safe journey for school going children.”
Some of the major customers of PBC include the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC), GAIL, ONGC, Spicejet, Oil India Ltd., Bodoland Transport Corporation, Tata Motors, Green Valley Travels, Quality Motors (Tanzania), Nagaland State Transport, Sarala Birla School (Guwahati), the Cambridge School, Government of Assam (Agricultural Division), Assam Tourism, Network Travels, Hayat Hospital, HPCL, Arunachal Tourism, etc.
PBC has a manufacturing unit covering 25,000 sq.ft. of covered area (shed) and 35,000 sq.ft. of uncovered area. It has a capacity to manufacture 30-35 buses per month. Their manufacturing facility comprises modern equipments and machines which include 500 ton press brake, 400 ton sheering, multipurpose angle / channel cutter, 7 tank phosphating plant, 65 KVA and 25 KVA silent DG, Dewalt make drills, manual sheet stretching machine, 4×6 Vacuum ABS forming machine, FRP / GRP plant, double piston air compressor, water leakage testing, paint mixing plant, manual pipe bending, manual sheet bending, MIG welding, arc welding, gas welding and pilot guns.
Competitive edge
Asked about PBC’s edge over other bus builders in the region, Mr. Sehmi said: “PBC is one of the oldest bus body builders in the region with expertise of nearly 33 years. We have majority of government clients, apart from a huge list of private operators who are our esteemed clients. We have exclusive design outlook of our vehicles and we do use materials and equipments which are imported from China, Taiwan and Germany.”
He further said that PBC also attaches equal importance to quality and is committed to updating technology from time to time. PBC has exclusive front and rear fascia bus designs which are popular amongst its clients. Prompt aftersales service and free servicing also add to customer support.
When asked about top three USP of PBC, Mr. Gurpreet referred to designing and light weight of the vehicle for improving the tyre life and mileage, and prompt aftersales services. PBC’s popularity in the North East region and in India has increased manifold due to the client trust and its dedicated service to them. Apart from buses, there has been great demand for caravan vehicles, critical care vans, ambulances and mobile library from PBC.
Passenger safety and comfort
Asked about compliance to the Bus Body Code, Mr. Sehmi said that he is upgrading his manufacturing facilities accordingly and is building a new plant which will be totally Bus Body Code-compliant. To be built over an area of five acres with the state-of-the-art machineries and facilities, it will comprise three manufacturing bays, different bays for accidental repairing, baking oven and heat chamber for painting.
The existing plant of PBC is ARAI-accredited and is ISO : 9001 : 2008 compliant. It is also approved by NSIC and MSME. Buses currently in production at PBC are Bus Body Code-compliant.
Mr. Sehmi further said there has been a significant rise in sales of air-conditioned buses. The rise can be termed a necessity rather than luxury. The passenger comfort and luxury concept has received top priority now-a-days as people prefer AC buses to avoid dust and pollution.
Asked about the sleeper buses concept which is yet to gain popularity in Assam and North East region, Mr. Sehmi said he personally feels that sleeper coaches may reduce the strain and tiredness which people feel during an Intercity Journey. However, he said that the hilly terrains of North East may not be so much suitable for sleeper buses as the passengers may not feel comfortable in the long curvy sections on some routes. Regarding safety concerns, he feels that the upcoming Bus Body Code would eliminate unorganized small-scale bus body builders who generally compromise on quality control and technical issues.
“ARAI codes will ensure safe and proper foundation for genuine and bus body building and will eliminate road side bus body builders”, said Mr. Sehmi. Bus and passenger safety is topmost priority for PBC. All PBC buses undergo phosphating and welded parts are applied with solution to avoid rust in joints. Usage of MIG welding sets, providing 30-40 per cent crumple zone for frontal collision safety, and use of laminated glass in the windshield are steps taken by PBC to ensure safety of passengers. PBC buses also have ARAI-approved seats, emergency exits and rear window with hammer.
“PBC is dedicated to make quality products for the market of Assam and North East. We are getting repeated orders from our clients who trust us in terms of quality and after sales support”, Mr. Sehmi added.
PBC is looking positively with its expansion plans through its new bus plant which is expected to be functional by 2019. PBC plans technical tie-up with Chinese companies like Foton. It wants to be adherent to the ARAI Bus Code and in the same time it wants the multinational joint ventures to carry on its work forward. PBC feels it is important to create awareness amongst local clients in Assam and North East India regarding quality control and maintenance. There is also a need to improve the infrastructure in the region, which will boost road transportation, thereby increasing investment in the bus body building industry.
“Overall, the future of the Indian bus industry looks positive and vibrant. Moreover, with our future plans in the pipeline, we feel we can make a good contribution for the development of Assam and North East India. There is a lot to be offered to the customers, and we feel that the bus industry is developing on a positive note,” Mr. Sehmi concluded on an optimistic note.
