Vijay Sankeshwar – Chairman of VRL Group

Vijay Sankeshwar is a Dharwad, Karnataka-based businessman from India. He serves as chairman of VRL Group, the largest logistics company in India, alongside Anand Sankeshwar, the managing director. He is renowned for having India’s largest fleet of commercial cars.

Name	Vijay Basavanneppa Sankeshwar
Born	02/08/1950
Education	Adarsha Shikshana Samiti’s College of Commerce
Nationality	Indian
Children	4
Award	Padma Shri, Indian Fourth- highest award by President Ram Nath Kovind 2020

Personal life and education

Vijay Sankeshwar was born on Wednesday, August 2, 1950, in Gadag-Betageri City, Mysore (now Karnataka), India. After completing his studies, Vijay Sankeshwar enrolled at Adarsha Shikshana Samiti’s College of Commerce in Karnataka, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in commerce.

Sankeshwar eloped with Lalitha Sankeshwar on December 14, 1972. The couple had three daughters and a son; Anand Sankeshwar is the managing executive of VRL Logistics Limited. His daughter’s name is Bharati Hollande.

Business Career

Vijay got interested in the transport business and, in 1976, started the cargo business with one truck he had purchased with a loan of Rs 2 lakhs. But, initially, he suffered severe losses due to accidents, lack of communication, and competition.

In 1978, Vijay Sankeshwar and his family moved to Hubballi to expand their transport business,and they bought three more trucks for trade. It founded the transportation business Vijayanand Roadlines Limited in 1983. At the beginning of 1990, VRL had 117 commercial vehicles and a turnover of more than four crores. In 1993, courier delivery started across Karnataka. In addition, Sankeshwar purchased 4 Passenger Buses in 1996, which carry passengers from Bangalore to Hubballi.

VRL Logistics

VRL Logistics Limited is a logistics and transportation business. The company operates through four divisions: goods transportation, bus operations, power sales, and air passenger transportation. The Products Transport segment provides customers in 22 states and five union territories in India with services for the transportation of goods using a variety of road transportation solutions, including less than full truckload and full truckload. Through multi-model solutions, this area also offers courier services for delivering small packages and papers. With a fleet of about 362 buses and coaches, the Bus Operations segment provides transportation services through buses throughout Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Goa. The power sector runs a wind farm with 1.25 MW worth of wind turbine generators. The segment for air passenger transportation offers passenger transportation services to private citizens and corporate representatives. In August 2006, the business changed its name from Vijayanand Roadlines Ltd. to VRL Logistics Limited. In 1976, VRL Logistics Limited was established, with its headquarters in Hubli, India.

Political Career

Beginning at a young age, Vijay Sankeshwar became involved in politics. When he was 12 years old, he observed meetings and rallies hosted by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). In previous elections, both for the state and the federal government, he used to take part in BJP election campaigns.
Vijay Sankeshwar joined the BJP in 1993, and as a result, he held numerous positions in the party at the state level.
He ran for and won the 11th Lok Sabha in 1996 from the Karnataka constituency of Dharwad on the BJP’s behalf.
He was chosen to join the Consultative Committee and Finance Committee in 1997.
He won reelection as a member of parliament for the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency in 1998.
He once more ran in the general elections from Dharwad in 1999, when the 1998 administration fell, and new elections were held, and he successfully won a seat in the Lok Sabha.
Vijay Lankeshwar participated in several legislative committees between 1999 and 2000, including the Committee on Commerce, Transport, and Tourism.
Vijay split from the BJP in 2003 due to tensions between the two parties, and he established the Kannada Naadu Party (KNOP) afterward. In the 2004 election for the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, KNOP ran. Later, KNOP and Janata Dal amalgamated (Secular). Later, Vijay Sankeshwar became a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly; however, he resigned due to the political stance of the RSS.

Networth

Vijay Sankeshwar’s net worth will be approximately $8 million in 2022.

Awards and Achievement

Vijay Sankeshwar was given the Udyog Ratna Award by the Institute of Economic Studies in 1994.
Vijay Sankeshwar was given the Aryabhata Award in 2002.
The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry gave the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Memorial Award to Vijay Sankeshwar in 2007. (FKCCI).
The All India Motor Transport Congress presented the Transport Samrat Award to Vijay Sankeshwar in 2008.
Vijay Sankeshwar was chosen as the 2012 India Road Transportation Awards’ Transport Personality of the Year (IRTA).
Vijay Sankeshwar received an honorary doctorate from Karnataka University in 2014.
Vijay Sankeshwar received the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honour in India, in 2020 from President Ram Nath Kovind.