VRL Group#Cargo and Courier

{{Short description|Indian logistics, travel and transport company}}

{{Infobox company

| name = VRL Logistics Limited

| logo = 260px

| type = Transportation and Logistics{{cite web |url=https://www.vrlgroup.in/mission_vision_of_vrl_group.aspx |title=Our mission, our vision |access-date=2017-10-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016070331/https://www.vrlgroup.in/mission_vision_of_vrl_group.aspx |archive-date=16 October 2017}}

| founder = Vijay Sankeshwar{{cite web |url=https://www.vrlgroup.in/vrl_group_logistics_travels_history.aspx |title=Currently the Largest Fleet Owner in India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016122029/https://www.vrlgroup.in/vrl_group_logistics_travels_history.aspx |archive-date=16 October 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=2021-11-14}}

| founded = {{start date and age| 1976}} in Gadag, Karnataka, India

| hq_location_city = Hubballi, Karnataka, India{{cite web |url=https://www.vrlgroup.in/contact_to_vrl_group.aspx |title=Contact us |access-date=2017-10-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016070552/https://www.vrlgroup.in/contact_to_vrl_group.aspx |archive-date=16 October 2017}}

| area_served = India{{cite web |url=https://www.vrlgroup.in/vrl_largest_logistics_transportation_solutions_in_india.aspx |title=General Parcel & VRL Priority |access-date=2017-10-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016121926/https://www.vrlgroup.in/vrl_largest_logistics_transportation_solutions_in_india.aspx |archive-date=16 October 2017 }}

| revenue = {{up}}{{INRConvert|2909|c}} (2024){{Cite web |title=VRL Logistics Annual Trends |url=https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/c8abdde3-8a40-4820-9552-358662406595.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520122136/https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/c8abdde3-8a40-4820-9552-358662406595.pdf |archive-date=2024-05-20}}

| operating_income = {{down}}

{{INRConvert|120|c}} (2024)

| net_income = {{down}}

{{INRConvert|89|c}} (2024)

| assets = {{up}}

{{INRConvert|2214|c}} (2024)

| equity = {{down}}

{{INRConvert|946|c}} (2024)

| owner = Vijay Sankeshwar

| traded_as = {{BSE|539118}}
{{NSE|VRLLOG}}

| key_people = {{nowrap|Vijay Sankeshwar, Anand Sankeshwar
Chairman & Managing Director}}

| website = {{URL|http://www.vrlgroup.in/}}

}}

VRL Logistics Limited (formerly Vijayanand Roadlines Ltd.),{{cite web |title=VRL Logistics Limited: Private Company Information |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=25093798 |website=bloomberg.com |access-date=30 July 2018}} commonly known as the VRL Group, is an Indian conglomerate headquartered in Hubballi, Karnataka, India with operations in around 23 states and 4 union territories in the country. Business operations of VRL Group include road transportation, logistics, publishing, etc.

VRL Group is one of the largest logistics and transport companies in India (incl.4360 vehicles, comprising 419 tourist buses and 3941 transport goods vehicles). The Limca Book of Records, states it is the single largest fleet owner of commercial vehicles in the country's private sector.{{cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/hublis-transport-tsar-rise-vijay-sankeshwars-vrl-logistics-into-a-nearly-rs-1000-crore-company/articleshow/21036757.cms?from=mdr |title=Hubli's Transport Tsar: Rise Vijay Sankeshwar's VRL Logistics into a nearly Rs 1,000 crore company |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=17 July 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307214312/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/hublis-transport-tsar-rise-vijay-sankeshwars-vrl-logistics-into-a-nearly-rs-1000-crore-company/articleshow/21036757.cms?from=mdr |archive-date=7 March 2018 |last1=Vaidya |first1=Pramodkumar }}

VRL's Vijayavani{{cite web|url=http://vijayavani.net/|title=ವಿಜಯವಾಣಿ · ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಧ್ವನಿ|website=ವಿಜಯವಾಣಿ|access-date=17 August 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813223023/http://vijayavani.net/|archive-date=13 August 2017}} is credited with having the largest newspaper circulation in Karnataka.

History

VRL Group was founded by Vijay Sankeshwar in 1976 at Gadag, Karnataka, India. His family had a publication house, which later became a part of the VRL Group.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

Headquarters and offices

VRL is headquartered in Hubballi, Karnataka and has 931 branches, 40 hubs and transport yards across the country. The headquarters has an effluent treatment plant (capacity:175 thousand liters), a rainwater harvesting plant, a petrol bunk (allotted by Indian Oil Corporation), and a garage service complex, where VRL’s trucks pass through once in every two weeks.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

Services

File:VRL-Courier-Services-Office.jpg near Pampa Mahakavi road, Chamrajpet, Bengaluru.{{cite web |title= V.R.L. Couriers Pvt. Ltd. Chamrajpet, Bangalore |url= https://www.sulekha.com/v-r-l-couriers-pvt-ltd-chamrajpet-bangalore-contact-address |publisher= sulekha.com |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180609072442/https://www.sulekha.com/v-r-l-couriers-pvt-ltd-chamrajpet-bangalore-contact-address |archive-date= 9 June 2018 }}]]

= Cargo and Courier =

A subsidiary of VRL Group, VRL General Cargo started its business service with transportation between Hubballi and Gadag, and later spread across to Bengaluru and Belagavi. It has extended into courier services and express cargo, which are now operative in 23 states, handling over 216 million pieces of cargo/year,{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/sanjaykumarguptaa/docs/project-on-logistics-management-in-vrl-logistics-/23|title=Project on Logistics management in VRL Logistics|website=ISSUU.com|date=19 May 2012 |access-date=17 August 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225185651/https://issuu.com/sanjaykumarguptaa/docs/project-on-logistics-management-in-vrl-logistics-/23|archive-date=25 February 2016}} being one of the largest networks in the country. Its courier services are in operation for parcels ranging from small to large size.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

= Travel =

VRL's public tour business is operated by its division Vijayanand Travels. With more than 80 branches and operated by 1000+ agents, it is the largest in tour business services in Karnataka and Maharashtra. It owns 1,550 buses (incl. 742 Volvo buses of 9400 XL and 9400PX multi-axle models),{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/vrl-logistics-buys-51-volvo-buses-116011501374_1.html|title=VRL Logistics buys 51 Volvo buses|last=IANS|date=15 January 2016|access-date=17 August 2017|via=Business Standard|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818005436/http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/vrl-logistics-buys-51-volvo-buses-116011501374_1.html|archive-date=18 August 2017}} covering six states, moving across 350 routes in the country.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

= Aviation logistics =

VRL Logistics Ltd. in 2008, started working in Indian Air Chartering Industry, operating under the Indian Air Operator permit (for passenger charter). In the first phase of its business, it owned a Beechcraft Premier I, an aircraft, manufactured by Hawker Beechcraft Inc, United States, while in 2013 it purchased another. It offers Jet aircraft charters to sectors like corporate, leisure and tourism, special missions, event management, advertisement agencies and for flights (VIP category).{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

= Media =

VRL Group's flagship entity, Vijayavani was started on 1 April 2011, which is now the largest circulated newspaper{{cite web |author= |date=16 October 2014 |title=ABC verdict- Vijayavani is the leading Kannada daily |url=http://www.exchange4media.com/Print/ABC-verdict--Vijayavani-is-the-leading-Kannada-daily_57826.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607213639/http://www.exchange4media.com/print/abc-verdict--vijayavani-is-the-leading-kannada-daily_57826.html |archive-date=7 June 2015 |access-date=16 October 2014 |website=exchange4media.com}} in Karnataka. VRL Group's subsidiary company VRL Media Ltd., prints Vijayavani and is published in 9 cities of the state.{{cite web|url=http://www.vijayavaniadvt.com/|title=VRL Media Ltd – Vijayavani Advertisement (ವಿಜಯವಾಣಿ)|website=Vijayavaniadvt.com|access-date=17 August 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812104617/http://www.vijayavaniadvt.com/|archive-date=12 August 2017}} Vijayavani’s lead editor of its editorial division is Chennegowder and Subhash hoogar. Karnataka's second largest circulated newspaper{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} Vijaya Karnataka, was started by Vijay Sankeshwar (of VRL Group) in October 2000, and was sold to the Times group on 16 June 2006.{{cite web |author= |date=16 June 2006 |title=Times group buys Vijaya Times, two Kannada dailies |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/times-group-buys-vijaya-times-two-kannada-dailies-106061601093_1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915095740/http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/times-group-buys-vijaya-times-two-kannada-dailies-106061601093_1.html |archive-date=15 September 2016 |access-date=16 June 2006 |website=business-standard.com}}

In April 2017, VRL Media Ltd. started Dighvijaya News 24x7, a Kannada television news channel.{{cite web |author= |date=17 April 2017 |title=VRL Media launches Kannada news channel, Dighvijay |url=http://www.exchange4media.com/TV/VRL-Media-launches-Kannada-news-channel-Dighvijay_68442.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418035712/http://www.exchange4media.com/tv/vrl-media-launches-kannada-news-channel-dighvijay_68442.html |archive-date=18 April 2017 |access-date=14 November 2021 |website=exchange4media.com}}

In popular culture

Vijayanand, a 2022 Indian Kannada-language biographical film directed by Rishika Sharma, produced by Dr. Anand Sankeshwar, talks about the history of VRL group.