Mother of five, what Gunjan?

Sir, my babies are in Nagpur!” boasted Gunjan Sharma, the new sensation in the trucking Jagat, who is focusing on building a robust convoy logistics empire from Ahmedabad.

A mutual friend tells me that the Sonam Trans Solutions malkin is so busy that she has no time for him — her mentor — too!

Forget it.

Gunjan? Mother of five babies?

I never knew she was married. Bade chupe rustom, she is!

Why didn’t you tell me you’re married and (have) kids!” I slammed her over the phone.

“No, sir! I am still .. you know, unmarried. Who told you I’m married?”

I could sense her discomfiture (or is it subtle happiness?)

By five babies, she meant her maiden tranche of five EV buses, which she is “convoying” to Arunachal Pradesh from Chakan, Pune, Maharashtra, on behalf of Eka Mobility, a new EV maker. I never heard of them until Gunjan revealed their existence. “These EVs are my babies,” explains the proud Gunjan.

It took three months for the Eka bosses to bless her with these brand new EV buses bought by a party in Arunachal Pradesh and “ordering” Gunjan to deliver them sahi salamat thousands of kilometres away from Chakan. Eka Mobility put Gunjan’s jockey drivers through a structured “gurukul” to ensure adequate exposure to driving an EV gaddi.

(Arunachal Pradesh triggered many memories of my Summer 2012–14 journey in that beautiful China-bordering large Indian state on behalf of the National Centre for Coldchain Development (NCCD) for a study of the non-existent highways and why its organic fruits and vegetables never reach the Indian mainland. Is the Manmohan Singh-sanctioned Trans Arunachal Highway fully ready? This warrants a visit.)

How did it happen? “Eka watched my single deliveries for various bus makers across India, including some to the Andamans and Nicobar Islands and Nepal. That convinced them that Gunjan is trustworthy and she can “deliver”,” she responds with a hearty laugh.

Okay, the five babies’ mystery is solved.

These five babies are still in Maharashtra and about to cross Nagpur, which is, so to speak, the middle of India.

Why so slow?

Remember, these are EV buses. Yaani ki, electric vehicle buses. Not hybrid but pure 100% EVs.

So …

Haven’t you heard of “range anxiety?”

Range anxiety is a universal challenge for EV buyers. Many complain about inadequate highway infrastructure, such as charging stations for non-polluting vehicles.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari may flag off as many EV buses as he wants, but their movement will be restricted, like cattle tethered to a pole. Gadkari is not holding the additional non-renewable energy portfolio to push the EV infra installation hard across Indian highways, like he is building highways at breakneck speed, right?

So, Gunjan’s convoy movement is slowed. By how much?

After every 180 km, these five babies must be stopped for charging.

From where?

Gunjan and her mentor (who does not wish to be named) considered it. Eka Mobility, too, for sure. After all, they are the sellers, and Sonam Trans Solutions is the middleman or woman!

So, another vehicle rigged with a stand-alone EV charging station escorts these five babies. The “charging” act is performed every 180 km, a four-hour job!

Now you understand why the march to Arunachal Pradesh is slow. Gunjan tweaks my ears remotely!

When will the convoy reach Arunachal Pradesh? Or The delivery is not happening tomorrow or the day after. A week after may be doubtful.

How does it matter?

Arunachal Pradesh, a. beautiful state, will get better with these Eka buses.

Meanwhile, Sonam Trans Solution malkin is busy chalking a strategy to collate jockey drivers to steer 240 EV buses to Nagpur from amchi Maharashtra.

Thus far, Gunjan has notched 1200 non-EV buses with her battalion of a few thousand jockey drivers for every conceivable bus maker.

She’s a glutton. Hungry for more and more!

She’s unbundling her suitcase as she has arrived from meeting the Eicher bosses.

But a call makes her abandon the unbundling act.

Hi, bhaiya, check the flight availability to …” she shouts at someone at her end.

No wonder her mentor also tells me that “she has no time” for him!

Good luck, Gunjan!