India’s No.1 news network, TV9 Network, on Thursday acknowledged the leaders of Road Transport, as the network said, they move the wheels of India, they put the future in motion, and they fuel the AtmaNirbhar Bharat dream.

The network has constantly engaged with the sector and its unsung heroes. Soon after the deadly second wave of Covid, TV9 Network launched a vaccination drive for truck drivers and their families.

Under the TV9 Network-led social cause initiatives, more than 17000 truck drivers were vaccinated in over 25 transportation hubs in 15 cities in two legs – Surakshabandhan in August 2021 and Highway Heroes in November 2021.

Chief guest General (Retd) VK Singh, MoS, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, will encourage the shining stars of our road transport sector.

Continuing to sharpen the focus on the road transport industry, TV9 Network has turned its focus on businesses and business leaders who had the resilience to not only tide over the pandemic-induced crisis but also come out stronger by resetting their business models, as per the company’s press release.

The Award has been endorsed by top stakeholders from the industry with All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) and Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) backing the platform as industry association partners.

At the Leaders of Road Transport Awards, Raktim Das, Chief Growth Officer, TV9 Network (Digital & Broadcasting) said, “Road Transport is vital for economic development and social integration of our nation. It is one of the most cost-effective and preferred modes of transport, both for freight and passenger. The sector accounts for about 87% of passenger traffic and 60% of freight traffic movement in the country. But it is one of most uncelebrated and contribution of stakeholders of this sector is largely unsung.”

Stating that the Awards will recognize the contribution of the road transport sector, said, “This sector, which contributes 4.8% to the country’s GDP, is paving a golden economic pathway as the country celebrates the 75th year of its independence. We are happy to have Continental Tires on board as presenting sponsor and Maruti Suzuki Commercial as powered by the partner for this unique initiative.”

On the participation in the awards, Samir Gupta, Managing Director, India and Head of Central Asia Region, Continental Tires said, “We are happy to be partnering with TV9 Network to recognize the businesses and business leaders of the Indian road transport industry. India is one of the largest automotive markets globally and is a very important market for Continental. Continental has always worked towards empowering fleets with quality and innovative solutions to increase their profitability. Continental Tires is offering commercial fleet operators it’s Conti360º solutions so they can better manage vehicle tires efficiently while reducing fuel and mileage costs. We have been continuously investing in India and boosting our manufacturing capacity and sales footprint across the country.”

“We have also been innovating and producing products for India. For example, Continental recently introduced Conti SupRim technology that delivers superior anti-aging properties, and enhances tyre bead flexibility, strength, and tear resistance. Another example of Continental’s commitment to innovation is Intelligent Tyres as part of Conti 360. Apart from the superior performance, the tyres can be integrated with GPS which allows monitoring fleet tyre performance and receiving alerts. Through the initiative led by TV9, we will get a chance to celebrate great innovations in the sector during these challenging times,” Samir added.

The Award is also an attempt to break gender stereotypes related to the sector. TV9 Network takes pride to announce the “Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award” category in the Leaders of Road Transport Awards. Thanking TV9 Network to come up with an award to celebrate the success of women leaders contributing enormously to the sector, Hima Parvataneni, CEO & Director, Navata Supply Chain Solutions Pvt. Ltd. said that the platform would also leverage the growing community to collaborate and learn from each other.