Bengaluru: BMTC set new ground Monday with the launch of 190 electric and BSVI buses.
Chief minister Basavaraj Bombmai flagged off buses at Vidhana Soudha. Two committees have been formed to revive state transport undertakings (STUs), and power utilities. Retired IAS officer MR Srinivas Murthy is expected to submit a report about the revival of STUs. He stated that the committee would make recommendations about how to plug pilferage, and how to improve services so that STUs can be profitable.
He stated that STUs should not be dependent on government subsidies. There are many ways to increase BMTC revenue. BMTC buses were hired by many PSUs to transport employees. We will talk to HAL and IT companies to convince them to do it again.
The CM suggested that BMTC buses be redesigned to appeal to commuters.
However, the induction of electric or BS-VI buses has been delayed. BMTC was first to conduct e-buse trial runs in 2014 as a state-run transport utility. Although the original plan was to deploy these 90 electric buses by June 2021, it was delayed due to various reasons. Similarly, 565 BS-VI buses had been announced in the 2017-18 state budget. However, things were delayed due to a case at the National Green Tribunal.
40 out of 90 ebuses have been spotted on the roads
Officials from BMTC said that 40 of the 90 non AC e-buses in Bengaluru Smart City scheme are currently being operated in the initial phase. These will operate on three routes from Kengeri depot: Kengeri-Banashankari, Kengeri-Electronics City, and Kengeri-Chikkabanawara, said BMTC MD V Anbukumar.
These 90 ebuses will be used as Metro feeder services to provide last- and first-mile connectivity. Bengaluru Smart City Ltd provided financial assistance of Rs 50 Crore for the operation. Anbukumar said that so far, 40 zero emission and environment-friendly electric buses have been delivered. The remainder will be deployed by January.
Out of the 90 e-buses available, 30 will operate from one of three depots: Yeshwantpur or KR Puram.
The buses measure 9m in length and have 33+1 seats. They also come with vehicle-tracking units and CCTV.
NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd is to operate these buses for a 10 year period at a rate Rs 51.67/km with daily electricity of 180 km per bus.
150 BS-VI diesel buses too
Officials at BMTC said that they will induct 565 BS-VI diesel buses and receive financial assistance from the state of Rs 191 crore. BSVI buses are low-emission and environment friendly. They are 41+1 in size and come with additional features such as an emergency panic button and rear air suspension. They will replace older buses and be more frequent. Anbukumar stated that 150 buses have been delivered so far. The remaining 150 will be deployed by February 2022.
He stated that BMTC is removing all buses that have traveled over 9 lakh kms or crossed 11 years. 1,232 of these buses have been identified, including BS-III. Anbukumar stated that 500 of these buses have been scrapped.
The last time BMTC added buses to its fleet was November 2019.
Chief minister Basavaraj Bombmai flagged off buses at Vidhana Soudha. Two committees have been formed to revive state transport undertakings (STUs), and power utilities. Retired IAS officer MR Srinivas Murthy is expected to submit a report about the revival of STUs. He stated that the committee would make recommendations about how to plug pilferage, and how to improve services so that STUs can be profitable.
He stated that STUs should not be dependent on government subsidies. There are many ways to increase BMTC revenue. BMTC buses were hired by many PSUs to transport employees. We will talk to HAL and IT companies to convince them to do it again.
The CM suggested that BMTC buses be redesigned to appeal to commuters.
However, the induction of electric or BS-VI buses has been delayed. BMTC was first to conduct e-buse trial runs in 2014 as a state-run transport utility. Although the original plan was to deploy these 90 electric buses by June 2021, it was delayed due to various reasons. Similarly, 565 BS-VI buses had been announced in the 2017-18 state budget. However, things were delayed due to a case at the National Green Tribunal.
40 out of 90 ebuses have been spotted on the roads
Officials from BMTC said that 40 of the 90 non AC e-buses in Bengaluru Smart City scheme are currently being operated in the initial phase. These will operate on three routes from Kengeri depot: Kengeri-Banashankari, Kengeri-Electronics City, and Kengeri-Chikkabanawara, said BMTC MD V Anbukumar.
These 90 ebuses will be used as Metro feeder services to provide last- and first-mile connectivity. Bengaluru Smart City Ltd provided financial assistance of Rs 50 Crore for the operation. Anbukumar said that so far, 40 zero emission and environment-friendly electric buses have been delivered. The remainder will be deployed by January.
Out of the 90 e-buses available, 30 will operate from one of three depots: Yeshwantpur or KR Puram.
The buses measure 9m in length and have 33+1 seats. They also come with vehicle-tracking units and CCTV.
NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd is to operate these buses for a 10 year period at a rate Rs 51.67/km with daily electricity of 180 km per bus.
150 BS-VI diesel buses too
Officials at BMTC said that they will induct 565 BS-VI diesel buses and receive financial assistance from the state of Rs 191 crore. BSVI buses are low-emission and environment friendly. They are 41+1 in size and come with additional features such as an emergency panic button and rear air suspension. They will replace older buses and be more frequent. Anbukumar stated that 150 buses have been delivered so far. The remaining 150 will be deployed by February 2022.
He stated that BMTC is removing all buses that have traveled over 9 lakh kms or crossed 11 years. 1,232 of these buses have been identified, including BS-III. Anbukumar stated that 500 of these buses have been scrapped.
The last time BMTC added buses to its fleet was November 2019.
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