MD Yash Sharma Reflects on The Damodar Story of Legacy, Design, and Reinvention

Director Yash Sharma of Damodar bus body builders reflects on the company’s four-decade legacy, its role in pioneering India’s sleeper coach revolution, and the road ahead shaped by design innovation and electric mobility.

For nearly four decades, the Damodar Group has been synonymous with strength, reliability, and innovation in India’s bus body building industry. From pioneering the country’s first sleeper coaches to shaping the future of electric mobility, Damodar’s journey mirrors the evolution of long-distance road travel in India.

In this conversation, Yash Sharma, Director and third-generation leader of the Group, reflects on Damodar’s legacy, its defining milestones, and the road ahead.

Damodar Group is widely credited with spearheading the sleeper coach revolution in India. How did it all begin?

The idea came from my grandfather, Mr. Giridhari Lal Sharma, in the early 1990s. Back then, long-distance bus travel meant sitting upright for hours. He asked a simple question: “If people sleep comfortably at home, why can’t they sleep while travelling?”

Turning that idea into reality wasn’t easy. Sleeper buses didn’t exist as a category, and registering one took nearly six months of continuous discussions with authorities. When approval finally came, it marked the birth of sleeper coach travel in India and set the foundation for Damodar’s pioneering spirit.

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Over the years, how has the Damodar Group grown in scale and infrastructure?

Today, Damodar operates two advanced manufacturing facilities — Shree Damodar Coach Crafts Pvt. Ltd. in Bengaluru and Damodar Motors India Pvt. Ltd. in Tumkur. Together, they span over 20 acres and have a combined production capacity of around 700 buses annually.

Our Tumkur facility also functions as a design and innovation centre, supporting R&D, prototyping, and product development. Looking ahead, a new 10-acre advanced manufacturing plant in Bengaluru, dedicated exclusively to electric mobility, is coming up shortly and will take our total capacity to 1,000–1,200 buses per year.

We are also setting up a 6.5-acre manufacturing facility in Jaipur, aimed at serving the North Indian market, with operations planned by the end of 2026.

How has Damodar evolved in terms of design, safety, and manufacturing standards?

Damodar has always been known for durability, but passenger expectations have evolved. Today, buses need character, comfort, and safety alongside strength. This led to our PRAVAHA design philosophy, inspired by Indian mythology and temple geometry, giving each coach a distinct identity.

On safety, we were the first in India to achieve AIS 119, AIS 153, and AIS 052 compliance across OEM platforms, supported by 100% FR-grade interiors and robust structural, electrical, and fire-safety systems.

Manufacturing has also transformed. We now combine skilled craftsmanship with CAD-based planning, alignment jigs, modular interiors, and multi-stage quality checks to ensure long-term reliability.

What does Damodar’s market presence look like today

Damodar has a strong pan-India presence, with buses operating across North, South, West, Central, and North-East India. This wide footprint reflects the reviews and the trust fleet operators place in our products and the consistency we’ve maintained over four decades.

“True innovation balances design, safety, and durability so every bus performs reliably for years.“

Is there a recent model that represents the new era of Damodar?

Yes, the launch of RUDRA in July 2025 was a defining moment for us. RUDRA is our flagship model and the purest expression of the PRAVAHA philosophy. Its design draws from mythological elements like Trishul-inspired body lines, Vasuki-inspired DRLs, and a temple crown fascia.

Developing RUDRA required extensive CAD simulations, multiple prototypes, and precision tooling to balance aesthetics with structural integrity. The response from operators has been extremely encouraging, and it has set a new benchmark for design and road presence in the industry.

Electric buses are gaining traction in India. How is Damodar approaching electric mobility?

We strongly believe electric mobility is the future, but it requires a completely different engineering mindset. Designing an electric sleeper coach involves new challenges in architecture, weight distribution, thermal management, and electrical safety.

Our approach is deliberate and engineering-led. We are investing in R&D and infrastructure to ensure that when we enter the EV space, our products deliver the same reliability, safety, and lifecycle performance that define Damodar diesel coaches.

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As a third-generation leader, what has your leadership journey been like?

For me, leadership began on the shop floor, not in an office. After completing my MBA, I spent time understanding manufacturing, workforce dynamics, and the small details that make a bus last.

Being young in a traditionally experience-driven industry has its challenges, but my role is not to replace experience — it’s to combine it with a future-focused vision. Leadership, for me, is service to a legacy my grandfather started, and my family strengthened.

“Our approach to electric mobility is the same as always: deliberate, engineering-led, and focused on trust.”

What lies ahead for the Damodar Group?

Our focus is on strengthening the core while preparing for the future. One upcoming model we’re excited about is KALPA, a semi-premium coach designed for wider adoption. It combines Damodar’s design DNA, comfort, and durability with commercial scalability.

With continued investments in manufacturing, safety, design, and electric mobility, Damodar is committed to remaining reliable, relevant, and future-ready — built for the long roads ahead.