GRD Body Builders unveiled its upgraded premium luxury semi-sleeper coach, G-Dolfino, at Prawaas 2019 and received many accolades as well.
The bus design is inspired by dolphins and the major characteristics of the playful sea animal – which is known for its friendliness with humans – can be seen reflected in the exotic features of the coach. Whether it is the soft curving lines of the exterior, luxurious interiors, colour palette – both inside and outside, the overall aesthetics take after the dolphin.
Designed to offer utmost passenger comfort, Mr. Ashok Kalsi, Head – Design at GRD has made generous provisions for wide seats, with massive leg room provided, reclinable back rest and flexible footrest.
Stated Mr. Kalsi: “I feel inspired by nature around us. And that is why we chose dolphins as inspiration for this model. And we have thought of every feature that can provide safety and rest to the passengers when they travel in our buses. The bus underbelly has enormous luggage space and inside the hat rack is most spacious too. In this model, we have provided powerful air-conditioning system by Valeo while the seats are made by a popular brand and the armrests are made of carbon fiber. The coach is spacious with 40 + 1 seats in 2×2 configuration and they are provided with calf support. We can accommodate 44 + 1 seats if calf-support is not requested by the customer.”
The G-Dolfino is built on a sturdy BharatBenz 1623 chassis and is BS-IV compliant. A team of about eight designers worked on the feasibility of the design for about six months under Mr. Kalsi. Highly customizable, the front and the back panels of the coach are made of FRP, while the side lower panels are made of aluminium to discourage corrosion when they come into the contact with moist environment. Its roof and stretch panels are made of galvanized iron sheets.
Mr. Puran Chand, Project Head, added: “Soon we will be introducing single FRP sheets for the roof top. In this model, the interiors are made up of FRP and Eurobond with vinyl flooring. Classy looks are contributed by orange LED indicator lights on the side panels and we have provided for reverse camera also. Yellow light strips line the stairs leading into the bus and along the hat rack for better visibility.”
Talking about Prawaas 2019, he shared that it is a vast and powerful platform that all bus body builders must make an effort to participate in. He said: “This place offers unadulterated customer feedback which is good not only for one to improve their creation but it also contributes towards better competition which in turn will only make the industry healthier. This is a great motivational place to be.”
Although he felt that the scale of investment to appear on this platform may prove a deterrent to smaller body builders.
GRD, as a reputed body builder, prides itself on launching at least two new models every year.
The company’s new plant in Sonepat has been up and running since two and a half years and its four-acre Bahalgarh plant is a state-of-the-art facility. Mr. Puran Chand stated: “We built it as a proper bus building facility with designated covered area for parking chassis from the customers. We have dedicated bays for all stages of body building – structural work area can accommodate 12 frames at a time, then 24 of them can be worked upon simultaneously for paneling in a different bay, while the painting area can handle 12 buses at a time. At the assembly line, we can work on 12 units at one go.”
The layout of the plant allows for it to handle small, mini, midi and long body vehicles at any point in time and also by way of skilled workforce.
GRD rolls out 35 buses in a month and it has recently invested about Rs. 25 lakhs in pneumatic lines. On the anvil are plans for GRD to work on sleeper coaches.