42 Years, 100 Buses, One Vision: Dharmasen Patil on the Evolution of Sangitam Travels

In a candid conversation, Director Dharmasen Patil opens up about the humble beginnings of Sangitam Travels and the legacy it has carved out over the past 42 years.

Last month, Sangitam Travels celebrated its 42nd anniversary with great pomp and show. As I stood watching the festivities, I was reminded that behind this leading transport brand is a story not just of buses, but of bold pivots, generational vision, and unwavering values.

Unlike most conventional stories from the transport business, Sangitam didn’t start with a transport vision – it started with melody. In 1983, founder Vinodkumar Panditrao Patil, who owned a music shop, noticed a growing need for better connectivity between Jalgaon and Pune. And he pivoted boldly. With just one bus and a deep sense of purpose, he launched an intercity service to bridge that gap for students and job-seekers from Khandesh.

Fast forward four decades, and Sangitam Travels now operates a fleet of over 100 buses across more than 90 routes, covering 80% of Maharashtra and expanding into four neighbouring states. But the real transformation came when the second generation stepped in.

“To be honest, there were no solid plans for me and my brother to join the business,” recalls Director Dharmasen Patil.

“It just happened on its own – or let’s say, the situation called for it. Either way, it was destiny that brought us to join our father,” he told me as we sat in his office, flipping through old photographs.

At the time, he was studying to become a Chartered Accountant, and his elder brother Dhanvijay Patil was pursuing a career in IT. Neither had imagined themselves in the transport business. But a mix of legal challenges and growing operational demands made their involvement necessary, first as a stopgap, and eventually as full-time leaders.

What followed was a decade of focused evolution. They brought in systems, embraced technology, expanded strategically, and turned Sangitam Travels from a modest, family-run legacy into a modern, scalable brand – all without losing the human touch and values their father had built it on.

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Mastering the Art of Adaptation: What It Takes to Thrive in the Indian Bus Industry

After laying a solid foundation in its early years, Sangitam’s success in today’s fiercely competitive intercity bus market has always been rooted in one core principle – adaptability. This principle has been central to the company’s journey from its humble beginnings to becoming a leader in Maharashtra’s transport sector.

Even as Sangitam has expanded its footprint and grown in size and stature, the company has remained steadfast in the values instilled by its founder, Vinodkumar Patil.

“No matter how big we become, we’ve stayed true to the values my father built this company on,” Dharmasen Patil reflected.

One of the most enduring values from its early days is its close connection with passengers. Even now, both directors are personally involved in making sure customer feedback plays a central role in shaping decisions. Every upgrade, every change, is guided by what passengers want, keeping the human touch alive in a sector evolving at breakneck speed.

“We’ve always listened to what our customers want, and today, we continue to evolve our services based on their feedback. I truly believe this is one of the key factors that set us apart in the industry,” he shared, highlighting the company’s unwavering dedication to continuously improving its offerings.

This philosophy has driven Sangitam Travels to introduce several key upgrades over the years. From luxury sleeper buses to the implementation of GPS tracking and an easy-to-use online booking system, the company has continuously adapted its services to keep pace with customer expectations.

But for Dharmasen Patil, growth has always been about quality over quantity.

“It’s not about the number of buses we have. We strive to ameliorate the experience we offer to our customers continuously. We focus on high-demand routes, ensuring every journey remains safe, comfortable, and hassle-free,” he said, highlighting how Sangitam strategically grows without compromising on service.

Having spent over a decade in the industry, Dharmasen Patil believes that the key to sustaining success lies in a continuous cycle of listening, learning, and adapting. 

“Staying ahead means embracing change, sometimes by learning from others, and sometimes by setting an example for them,” he said, highlighting how Sangitam remains committed to pushing boundaries and setting new standards in the sector.

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Embracing Technology: How Innovation is Keeping Sangitam Ahead of the Curve

For Sangitam, technology has been a game-changer in both streamlining operations and enhancing the passenger experience. Over the years, technology has not only made the fleet management process easier and more efficient, but it has also empowered Sangitam Travels to provide a safer, more reliable service.

The ability to monitor their buses in real-time – from tracking speed and GPS data to accessing dashcam footage – has armed them to address all issues instantly, ensuring smoother operations. Additionally, technology has also simplified the passenger journey, with online ticket booking, live bus tracking, and seat selection features now a part of everyday travel.

“We’ve always been focused on making our services as efficient and reliable as possible, and technology has been a huge part of that,” he explained. 

“What technology allows us to do is monitor everything, from over-speeding to breakdowns, in real-time. If something goes wrong, we can immediately respond. The impact of that on both our operations and the passenger experience has been incredible. At the end of the day, it’s all about giving our passengers peace of mind.”

This ongoing investment in technology continues to enhance reliability and optimize services, ensuring that Sangitam not only keeps up with the times but also shapes the future of travel in Maharashtra.

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The Road Ahead: A Sector on the Brink of Transformation

In the past two decades, the Indian bus industry has undergone a seismic shift. What was once a largely manual, intuition-driven operation has now evolved into a highly digitized, customer-centric service. For companies like Sangitam Travels, adapting to this shift wasn’t optional; it was essential.

“Twenty years ago, everything was offline, ticketing, maintenance, even route planning,” he explained. “It was all about experience and gut feeling. Today, everything runs on data, and expectations are much higher.” 

From the rise of online booking platforms to real-time GPS tracking and digital payments, the way passengers travel has changed dramatically. Reliability, comfort, and transparency are no longer luxuries; they’re standard expectations.

And the industry is far from done evolving.

Looking ahead, Dharmasen Patil is optimistic. Citing global examples like Japan and Europe, he pointed to how advanced safety and service features are slowly making their way to Indian roads.

“India is entering an era of transformation. As infrastructure gets better, public transport – especially intercity buses – will become even more integral to how we move,” he said.

Recent government mandates, like the inclusion of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), are just the beginning. With AI-driven fleet management, automated maintenance alerts, and smart route optimization on the horizon, the sector is set to become more efficient and safer than ever before.

“Features like breathalyzers and blind spot assist, already standard in the West, will soon be commonplace here too,” he noted.

Market projections echo his confidence. With the electric bus segment alone expected to grow at over 20.66% CAGR through 2029, the Indian bus industry is poised for a multi-billion-dollar boom. And as Dharmasen Patil believes, the companies that commit to meaningful passenger experience and innovation today will be the ones leading the way tomorrow.