Prawaas 5.0, Gandhinagar 2026: Everything You Need to Know Before You Attend

India's road freight and public transport sector is in the middle of its most consequential transformation in decades. Fleet operators are being asked to adopt AIS 140-compliant GPS tracking, logistics companies are evaluating whether to buy GPS devices in bulk or migrate to integrated platforms, and fleet managers across the country are weighing the tradeoffs between standalone transport software and end-to-end ERP software that connects operations, compliance, and finance in one system.

Against this backdrop, Prawaas 5.0 arrives at exactly the right moment. Organised by the Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) and scheduled from 9 to 11 July 2026 at the Helipad Exhibition Centre (HEC), Gandhinagar, Gujarat, this is the fifth and most ambitious edition of India's flagship multimodal mobility event.

The theme for 2026, "Towards Safe, Smart & Sustainable Public Transport", is not an aspiration. It is a policy direction being reinforced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the National Urban Transport Policy, and a growing cohort of state governments actively investing in public transit infrastructure. Prawaas 5.0 is where these threads converge into actionable dialogue, real business deals, and on-ground demonstrations.

What Is Prawaas 5.0? The Event in Context

Prawaas is not a standalone trade fair. It is a three-day ecosystem event that combines a global trade exhibition, a multi-track conference, workshops, startup pitch sessions, B2B partnering meetings, awards, and networking programmes into a single, co-located format. The scale and ambition of each edition have grown significantly since its inception, making Prawaas 5.0 the largest version yet.

Here is a factual overview of what Prawaas 5.0 is expected to bring together this year: 

Metric	Expected Scale
States & UTs Represented	36
Industry Delegates	1,500+
Bus & Car Operators	10,000+
Expert Speakers	60+
Leading Exhibitors	300+
Business Visitors	15,000+
Duration	3 days (9-11 July 2026)
Venue	Helipad Exhibition Centre (HEC), Gandhinagar, Gujarat

The event is hosted by the Gujarat government and co-hosted by key state transport bodies, with Tata Motors as Principal Partner and redBus as Awards Partner. The presence of senior dignitaries from the central government, including Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari and Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, alongside Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, signals that this event carries significant policy weight alongside its commercial agenda.

The Eight Pillars of Prawaas 5.0: What to Expect

The event is structured around eight distinct programme components, each designed for a different audience and outcome. Here is what each entails:

1. Global Trade Exhibition

The exhibition floor is the largest component of Prawaas 5.0, covering 300+ exhibitors across vehicles, components, technology, and services. For companies in the logistics and fleet management space, this is the most important physical showcase in India's transport calendar.

What will be on the floor:

• Full-sized electric buses, CNG coaches, and hybrid transit vehicles from OEMs including Tata Motors, Volvo, JBM, and Eicher

• Fleet technology platforms including transport software, route optimization engines, and driver behaviour analytics

• GPS hardware vendors where operators can evaluate options before they buy GPS devices for their fleet

• AIS 140 compliant onboard units and telematics hardware certified under VAHAN and MoRTH norms

• Dash cameras with AI-based incident detection and driver-facing monitoring capabilities

• ERP software platforms built specifically for transport and logistics operations

• HVAC systems, tyre management solutions, and bus body components

• Insurance, fleet financing, and leasing solutions

For procurement teams evaluating whether to buy GPS devices individually or through integrated platform contracts, the exhibition floor provides a rare opportunity to run vendor comparisons in one location. The AIS 140 standard mandated by MoRTH requires GPS and emergency button compliance across commercial vehicles, making this category especially active at the show.

2. Conference: Policy Meets Practitioner

The Prawaas 5.0 conference is a multi-track programme running across all three days, featuring over 60 speakers drawn from government ministries, state transport undertakings, private operators, technology companies, and multilateral development bodies.

Expected conference themes based on the event's stated scope:

• National Electric Bus Programme: Status, gaps, and the road to 50,000 e-buses

• Multimodal integration: Metro, BRT, last-mile, and intercity connectivity frameworks

• AIS 140 compliance: Implementation challenges for fleet operators across states

• Logistics and supply chain technology: The role of ERP software and transport software in modernising freight operations

• Road safety: Data-driven interventions using dash cameras, telematics, and AI monitoring

• Sustainable fuels: CNG, hydrogen, and hybrid transition pathways for bus operators

• Urban mobility financing: FAME III, VGF structures, and municipal bond frameworks 

The Smart Cities Mission and PM-eBus Sewa Programme are expected to feature prominently in the policy sessions, given their direct relevance to the operator and government audience in attendance.

3. Workshops: Hands-On Technical Learning

Workshops at Prawaas 5.0 are designed as smaller, focused sessions that go beyond the panel discussion format. These are targeted at operations managers, fleet technicians, compliance officers, and technology procurement teams.

Workshops are likely to cover:

• How to evaluate and procure AIS 140 compliant GPS hardware

• Practical implementation of transport software in multi-depot bus operations

• Integrating dash cameras with fleet management systems for insurance and safety compliance

• ERP software configuration for logistics companies managing mixed fleet types

• Driver training methodologies using telematics and fatigue monitoring data

4. Bharat Prawaas Awards: Recognising Excellence in Mobility

The Bharat Prawaas Awards, hosted at bharatprawaas.com, recognise outstanding contributions across the mobility ecosystem. Award categories span innovation in public transport, road safety, technology adoption, green fleet transition, and operator excellence.

These awards are not ceremonial. They serve as a quality benchmark that operators, manufacturers, and technology providers actively seek. For companies in the fleet management, logistics, or transport software space, recognition at Bharat Prawaas Awards carries meaningful third-party credibility.

5. BOCI Dialogue: The Operator Voice

The BOCI Industry Leadership Reception and BOCI Dialogue sessions are dedicated to the challenges and opportunities facing India's private bus and coach operators. These are closed-format or limited-access discussions that bring together BOCI council members, state chapter heads, and senior operators to shape industry positions on regulation, infrastructure access, and technology adoption.

Key topics likely on the BOCI Dialogue agenda:

• State-level permit reforms and interstate corridor rationalisation

• Fleet renewal economics in a CNG-to-EV transition environment

• Driver shortage, training, and welfare frameworks

• Insurance cost structures and risk pooling models for operator associations

6. Policymakers' Roundtable

The Policymakers' Roundtable brings together senior officials from central and state transport ministries in a structured dialogue format. Unlike conference panels, this session is designed for specific policy questions to be raised, debated, and responded to by officials with actual decision-making authority.

For operators waiting on clarity around VAHAN integration, FASTag-linked compliance systems, or state-specific EV subsidy structures, the roundtable is a critical intelligence-gathering opportunity. The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways VAHAN portal and BharatStage emission standards are among the regulatory frameworks likely to be discussed in this context.

7. Startup Pitches

The startup pitch session at Prawaas 5.0 provides early-stage mobility companies with a platform to present to investors, OEMs, and large fleet operators. For startups working on:

• AI-powered dash camera analytics and driver behaviour scoring

• Last-mile logistics optimisation and route planning algorithms

• AIS 140 hardware with edge computing for offline GPS tracking

• ERP software for small and mid-size transport companies

• EV charging management systems and energy-as-a-service platforms

The pitch session provides validation, potential partnership leads, and media visibility that would otherwise take months to accumulate through conventional channels. 

8. B2B Partnering and Networking Dinner

B2B Partnering at Prawaas 5.0 is a curated, pre-scheduled meeting system that allows exhibitors, delegates, and operators to book one-on-one sessions before the event begins. This removes the randomness of trade fair networking and ensures that the right conversations happen in structured 20-30 minute slots.

The exclusive Networking Dinner on one of the event evenings provides the informal relationship-building context that is difficult to replicate in formal conference settings. For senior business development and sales professionals, this is often where the most consequential conversations begin.

Technology at the Centre: What Prawaas 5.0 Tells Us About India's Fleet Tech Priorities

Prawaas 5.0 reflects a market that is rapidly moving from basic vehicle tracking to integrated operational platforms. The technology landscape on display and in discussion at this event provides a snapshot of where India's transport sector is actually heading, as opposed to where analysts say it should be. 

Technology Category	Current Adoption Level	Regulatory Driver	What to Look For at Prawaas 5.0
GPS Tracking / AIS 140	Mandatory for commercial vehicles under MoRTH	AIS 140 Standard, VAHAN integration	Next-gen AIS 140 devices, bulk procurement options
Dash Cameras	Growing, driven by insurance and safety mandates	MoRTH road safety guidelines	AI-enabled event detection, driver-facing cameras
Transport Software / TMS	Moderate; large operators leading adoption	Operational efficiency, ePOD compliance	Integration with GPS hardware and ERP back-end
ERP Software for Logistics	Low-to-moderate among mid-size operators	GST e-way bill compliance, cost visibility	Cloud-native ERP with fleet and finance modules
Electric Bus Technology	Scaling rapidly under PM-eBus Sewa	FAME scheme, state EV policies	Battery management, charging infrastructure
CNG & Alternative Fuels	High in urban fleets, expanding intercity	CPCB emission norms, BS6 Phase 2	CNG retrofits, refuelling network economics

For logistics companies and fleet operators deciding whether to invest in standalone transport software or move to a full ERP software stack, Prawaas 5.0 is an opportunity to see competing platforms in a live demonstration environment and to speak directly with operators who have already made this transition. The National Logistics Policy 2022 outlines India's ambition to reduce logistics cost from approximately 13-14% of GDP to 8%, and technology adoption across fleet management, freight, and last-mile is central to achieving that target. 

Who Should Attend Prawaas 5.0?

Prawaas 5.0 draws a specific and professional audience. Understanding who attends helps clarify whether the event is relevant for your organisation and which programme components to prioritise. 

Attendee Profile	Most Relevant Event Components
Private Bus & Coach Operators	Exhibition, BOCI Dialogue, B2B Partnering, Networking Dinner
State Transport Undertakings (STUs)	Conference, Policymakers' Roundtable, Exhibition
Fleet Technology & GPS Hardware Vendors	Exhibition, B2B Partnering, Workshop sessions
Logistics & Freight Companies	Exhibition, Conference sessions on ERP and TMS, B2B
EV & Clean Energy Technology Companies	Exhibition, Conference, Startup Pitches
Government & Regulatory Officials	Policymakers' Roundtable, Conference, Bharat Prawaas Awards
Investors & VCs in Mobility	Startup Pitches, B2B Partnering, Conference
Transport & Urban Planning Consultants	Conference, Workshops, Policymakers' Roundtable

Prawaas 5.0 vs Previous Editions: What Has Changed

Each edition of Prawaas has built on the previous one. The fifth edition marks a notable expansion in scope, participation, and policy alignment compared to earlier iterations.

Dimension	Earlier Editions (1-4)	Prawaas 5.0 (2026)
Primary Focus	Bus and coach operators	Full multimodal ecosystem: buses, metro, taxis, last mile
Government Engagement	State-level participation	Central ministers + Chief Minister + policy roundtable
Technology Emphasis	Vehicle and component focus	Fleet tech, ERP software, dash cameras, GPS, EV
Startup Participation	Limited	Dedicated pitch format with investor access
Geographic Reach	Regional and national	36 states and UTs; international exhibitor presence

The Venue: Helipad Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar

The Helipad Exhibition Centre (HEC) in Gandhinagar is Gujarat's premier large-format exhibition venue. Located at Swarnim Park, Sector 17, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382010, it offers 40,000+ square metres of covered exhibition space across multiple halls, making it suitable for both full-size vehicle displays and technology showcases.

Key facts about the venue and travel logistics:

• Distance from Ahmedabad International Airport: approximately 30 km, easily accessible via the SG Highway

• Ahmedabad railway station connects to Gandhinagar via metro (Blue Line) and road

• The venue has large parking facilities suitable for bus and vehicle display entries

• Gandhinagar itself is a well-planned city with adequate hotel inventory across all budget levels

• The event runs from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on all three days

Gujarat's positioning as India's leading state for EV manufacturing and clean energy investment adds contextual relevance to Prawaas 5.0 being hosted here. The state's EV Policy 2021 and its large-scale bus electrification programmes across Ahmedabad and Surat make its transport officials among the most informed in the country on the topics Prawaas 5.0 will address.

Key Sponsors and Partners: What Their Presence Signals

The partner lineup at Prawaas 5.0 is itself a signal about the event's character. A brief look at who is sponsoring and what it means for attendees:

Partner	Category	Why Their Presence Matters
Tata Motors	Principal Partner	India's largest commercial vehicle manufacturer; signals strong OEM commitment to public transport
redBus	Awards Partner	India's dominant intercity bus aggregator; brings digital-first perspective to operator conversations
Volvo Buses India	BOCI Day Partner	Premium segment OEM; relevant for state and luxury operator procurement discussions
Eicher Trucks & Buses	BOCI Day Partner	Key player in mass-market bus segment for private operators
JBM Group	Supported By	Leading electric bus manufacturer under PM-eBus Sewa contracts
ZF Group	Silver Partner	Global drivetrain and safety technology; relevant for BS6 and EV transition discussions

The Logistics and Fleet Management Opportunity at Prawaas 5.0

For professionals working in logistics, fleet management, and transport operations, Prawaas 5.0 offers a concentrated opportunity to assess where the market is moving and which technology investments are worth making in the next 12-24 months.

Three specific areas deserve attention:

GPS and AIS 140 Hardware Consolidation

The AIS 140 mandate from MoRTH requires that all commercial vehicles above a certain gross vehicle weight carry certified GPS units with emergency alert functionality. As enforcement tightens and VAHAN integration becomes stricter, operators who have not yet completed this transition are under increasing pressure to buy GPS devices that meet the AIS 140 specification and are approved by the appropriate certification body.

The exhibition floor at Prawaas 5.0 will have multiple vendors in this space, making it the most efficient venue to compare hardware specifications, pricing structures, and after-sales support across vendors in a single visit.

Dash Camera Adoption Accelerating

The case for dash cameras in commercial vehicles has moved from optional to near-essential. Insurance companies are beginning to factor dash camera footage into claims assessment, and road safety regulations under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 have increased operator liability for driver negligence.

At Prawaas 5.0, expect to see:

• Dual-channel dash cameras with forward-facing and driver-facing lenses

• AI-enabled systems that detect phone use, drowsiness, and lane departure in real time

• Cloud-connected dash cameras integrated with fleet management platforms

• Event-triggered upload systems that reduce bandwidth costs for large fleets

Transport Software and ERP Convergence

The market for transport software is fragmenting in an interesting direction. On one end, specialised transport management systems (TMS) offer deep functionality for route planning, load management, and freight billing. On the other, ERP software platforms built for logistics companies are adding transport-specific modules to compete with standalone TMS tools.

For operators and logistics companies attending Prawaas 5.0, the exhibition and workshops are an opportunity to understand:

• Whether a dedicated transport software solution or a logistics ERP better fits your operational complexity

• How well shortlisted platforms integrate with AIS 140 GPS hardware and dash camera feeds

• Total cost of ownership across SaaS versus on-premise deployment models

• Vendor track record with fleets of similar size and geography

The National Logistics Policy identifies technology adoption as a core lever for improving India's logistics competitiveness. Platforms that help operators comply with e-way bill requirements, track driver hours, manage ePOD workflows, and report fuel consumption in a unified dashboard are no longer a luxury. They are a competitive necessity.

Roadshow Events and Curtain Raisers: Building Toward the Main Event

Prawaas 5.0 is not a standalone three-day event. It is preceded by a series of Curtain Raiser events across Indian cities, which serve as regional engagement forums where operators, government officials, and industry stakeholders build the momentum and conversations that will continue at Gandhinagar.

Curtain Raiser shows were successfully held in Puri - Orissa, Hyderabad – Telengana, Lucknow – UP, Chennai – Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Pune – Maharashtra, and Ahmedabad – Gujarat, earlier in 2026. These events serve a specific purpose:

• They surfaced region-specific transport challenges and priorities that feed into the main conference agenda

• They allowed local operators who may not travel to Gandhinagar to participate in the broader Prawaas conversation

• They built exhibitor and delegate pipelines from geographies outside the traditional Gujarat-Maharashtra-Delhi belt 

How to Register and What It Costs

Prawaas 5.0 has two primary registration categories: 

Category	Who It Is For	Where to Register
Delegate Registration	Conference attendees, operators, professionals seeking full event access including all sessions	prawaas.com/Conference.php (early bird closes 30 June 2026)
Business Visitor Registration	Exhibition visitors, procurement professionals, supplier evaluation teams	prawaas.com/prawaas-2026/public/visitor/register
Exhibitor Booking	Companies seeking exhibition stall space (limited availability)	prawaas.com/exhibition.php (exhibitor manual available for download)

Important: The early bird delegate registration deadline is 30 June 2026. Exhibition spaces are described as limited, making early stall booking advisable for companies planning product launches or large-format vehicle demonstrations at the show. 

Making the Most of Three Days: A Practical Attendance Framework

Prawaas 5.0 is dense. With three parallel tracks, an active exhibition floor, B2B meetings, workshops, and networking events all running simultaneously, arriving without a plan means missing the sessions and meetings that matter most to your organisation.

A practical approach for different attendee types: 

For Fleet Operators and Transport Companies

• Prioritise Day 1 morning for the opening conference session and ministerial addresses to capture the policy direction being set for the year

• Block Day 1 afternoon for the exhibition floor, specifically GPS and AIS 140 hardware vendors if you are looking to buy GPS devices or upgrade existing units

• Use B2B Partnering slots (book in advance) for structured meetings with ERP software or transport software vendors

• Attend the BOCI Dialogue session to hear peer operator perspectives on compliance and fleet transition challenges

• Reserve evening for the Networking Dinner if invited, as this is where principal relationships with OEMs and financiers are often formed 

For Technology Vendors and Exhibitors

• Set up for maximum visibility in the exhibition zone by Day 1 morning given that Day 1 typically sees the highest footfall

• Submit for the Bharat Prawaas Awards in relevant categories to build credibility

• Use the startup pitch session if eligible to reach investors and large fleet operators in one concentrated session

• Engage with conference moderators for speaking opportunities in panel sessions relevant to your product category 

For Logistics and Supply Chain Professionals

• Focus on conference sessions covering the National Logistics Policy and technology adoption in freight

• Evaluate dash camera and transport software vendors on Day 2 when the exhibition floor is typically less crowded

• Attend ERP software demonstrations scheduled in workshop formats for hands-on product evaluation

• Use Day 3 for B2B meetings with vendors shortlisted over Days 1 and 2

The Larger Context: Why This Event Matters for India's Transport Future

India is in the process of building the public transport infrastructure that will serve a population of 1.6 billion by 2050. The India Urban Mobility Report by NITI Aayog projects that urban transport demand will grow threefold over the next two decades. Managing that growth in a way that is environmentally sustainable, economically efficient, and socially inclusive requires exactly the kind of multi-stakeholder coordination that Prawaas was designed to facilitate.

The alignment of fleet electrification mandates, AIS 140 compliance enforcement, logistics policy reform, and technology investment cycles means that the decisions being made in 2026 will determine the shape of India's transport sector for the next decade. Prawaas 5.0 is the forum where those decisions get discussed, contested, and in many cases, made.

For operators, technology companies, and policymakers who want to be present when those conversations happen, Gandhinagar in July 2026 is where they need to be.

Quick Reference: Prawaas 5.0 at a Glance

Detail	Information
Event Name	Prawaas 5.0
Dates	9-11 July 2026
Venue	Helipad Exhibition Centre (HEC), Swarnim Park, Sector 17, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382010
Organiser	Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI)
Event Curator	MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications, Pune
Theme	Towards Safe, Smart & Sustainable Public Transport
Secretariat Contact	secretariat@prawaas.com | +91 80 4113 1912/13
Official Website	prawaas.com
Early Bird Deadline	30 June 2026
Principal Partner	Tata Motors
Awards Partner	redBus