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Swedish firm making luxury buses in India for India
Bengaluru: Swedish transport solutions provider Scania AB has started making luxury buses and coaches here for inter-city and intra-city services across the country, a company official said on Monday.
“We are making world class luxury buses and coaches in India for safe and comfortable drives in cities and states across the country at affordable price,” Scania commercial vehicles chief executive Martin Lundstedt told reporters at the new plant at Narasapura in Kolar district.
Set up at a combined cost of Rs.300 crore on a 40-acre area in the backward district, about 40km from here, the plant has a capacity to roll out 1,000 buses and coaches a year, with chassis from its adjacent truck production facility set in 2013.
“The modular plant will serve as a hub for Indian and export markets in Asia, West Asia and Africa to meet the growing industry and transport needs in developing countries and emerging economies,” said Lundstedt.
The $10.7-billion global automotive major had set up the truck facility to roll out 2,500 units per annum for mining, roads, infrastructure sectors besides logistics.
“We will double the production capacity to 2,500 buses and 5,000 trucks over the next five years and ramp up our headcount to 800 from 300 presently,” said Scania India’s MD Anders Grundstromer.
With a view to increasing localisation, the company has tied up with a number of tier-1, tier-two and tier-three vendors and suppliers for sourcing components, accessories and spare parts.
“Our goal is to draw on local talent and competence and combine it with global experience. The gameplan is to make our Indian facilities part of our global network and create value across our global value chain,” Lundstedt said.
The firm has secured orders from state-run transport corporations in Karnataka and Maharashtra.
“We have orders to supply 35 luxury buses from Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), 30 units from Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) and 150 coaches from private operators such as SRS Travels in Bengaluru and Golden Travels in Mumbai,” Grundstromer said.
Though Scania is entering India a decade after another Swedish transport major Volvo came and consolidated its presence in trucks and bus segments, Grundstromer said he was upbeat on the Indian market, which is set to grow on economic revival and huge investment plans in building road network across the country.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.