Neeta Travels: A Legacy of Growth, Risk, and Resilience

I have had the privilege of knowing the Savla family of Neeta Tours and Travels and Bhawanji Bhai (Maternal Uncle of Mr Sunil, Mr. Anil and Ms Neeta, fondly known as Bhawanji Mama), for over four decades. This month I decided to meet Bhawanji Bhai and Sunil, our conversations took me on a journey of inspiration, perseverance, and bold business decisions.

The story began in 1969, when Mr. Bachubhai Savla along with Bhawanji Bhai started his business as an Exide battery dealer. A year later, he ventured into the taxi service, gradually expanding into private bus transportation. By 1974, Neeta Travels had purchased ten Bajaj Tempo Matador buses, laying the foundation for what would become one of India’s most well-known private bus operators.

The real transformation began in 1986, with the acquisition of a second-hand Tata bus, followed by their first new bus purchase from Bafna Motors in 1992. Between 1992-2002, Neeta Travels built a strong fleet of 70 Tata buses, cementing its reputation in Mumbai’s private bus sector.

Taking a Leap of Faith with Volvo

In 2002, the company faced a defining moment. Mr. Sunil Savla, the next-generation leader, saw an opportunity in luxury travel and proposed adding Volvo buses to the fleet which cost the company over 3.2 Cr investment.?However, his father was skeptical about their viability in the Mumbai market which made Sunil explore canceling this order, before delivery with an estimated loss of Rs. 20 Lakhs. Despite this initial hesitation, Neeta Travels took the bold step of investing in eight Volvo buses which gathered excellent response by the end customers. As demand for premium travel surged, validating the decision, the company took the decision with financial support from Citi finance and ICICI Bank, expanding aggressively and doubling order quantity from 8 to 16, 32 and 64 buses from Volvo. Mr Anil managed the workshops and maintenance of their growing bus fleet.?

By 2011-2012, Neeta Tours and Travels became Asia’s largest private Volvo bus operator, so much so that in Mumbai, ‘Volvo’ became synonymous with ‘Neeta’. During my days at TATA Motors, I would regularly visit IAA Hannover, and upon coming back to India, share the literature from European bus manufacturers with Mr. Sunil and Bhawanji Bhai. They would go through the same and would be inspired to paint their buses as per European Trends, becoming benchmarks for other tour operators who would follow suit.?

Beyond Buses: Expansion into Hospitality

?? 2005 – The company entered the hospitality sector with their first hotel in Mahabaleshwar, followed by Shirdi and Lonavala. The idea was to give their customers an end to end experience of Travel, Food and Accomodation at selected destinations. At its peak, Neeta Travels operated 200+ buses across 7 states and 170 destinations, setting new industry benchmarks.

The Heart of the Business: Bhawanji Bhai Satra

A key pillar in this journey has been Mr. Bhawanji Bhai, whose humble and relationship-driven approach ensured smooth day-to-day operations.

A story that reflects his simplicity: At a MAN Bus launch event including dinner at Mr. Abhay Firodia’s home, which would be attended by the top management from TATA, Daimler and others from the industry, guests were required to wear a formal suit and shoes. Being a minimalist, Bhawanji Bhai, who always wore a white shirt, trousers, and chappals, politely declined the invitation. Mr Firodia’s Team, valuing his presence, reassured him that his attire didn’t matter. His values—authenticity over appearances—resonated deeply with all who knew him.?

His technical knowledge and customer centricity have ensured that global bus manufacturing industry leaders from Volvo, Tata, Daimler, Scania, VDL, Hino, Ashok Leyland, and Eicher have met Bhawanji Bhai, over the years and taken his opinion, and feedback on private passenger bus as a product and the Bus Transportation Market.?

For the last couple of years, Bhawanji Bhai has been focussing on his health and taken a backseat from the business. He is however recovering from cancer and is full of life and stories which I am lucky to hear during our regular interactions.?

Navigating Challenges & Looking Ahead

in 2014, Neeta Travels faced industry challenges—rising diesel prices and competitive pricing pressures led to the strategic downsizing of the fleet. The fleet was optimized to 50 buses, focusing on efficiency over scale.

However, the company is now gearing up for its next phase of growth: Adding 50 more premium buses by April 2025 and venturing into real estate, with plans for hotels, commercial, and residential projects, including redevelopment of old societies.

A Legacy of Bold Decisions & Innovation

Neeta Travels' journey is a testament to the vision, adaptability, and calculated risks. From a single taxi in 1970 to Asia’s largest private Volvo operator, and now into real estate, the Savla family has continuously evolved, shaping India’s travel landscape.

Volvo Group Tata Motors Daimler Buses GmbH BHARATBENZ VDL Bus & Coach bv Scania Group Hino Motors Sales India Pvt. Ltd. Ashok Leyland Eicher Trucks and Buses Tata Cummins

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