Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation is planning roll out of electric buses on inter-city routes within 200-kms for a round trip
This will be based on the success of a plan by Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation that is in the final stages of inducting 300 such buses by end February.
The tender process to select the lowest bidder for this contract will be finalised by mid-February, deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi said.
With the Centre providing a grant of Rs 55 lakh under Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles (FAME) in India scheme, the state will pitch in with its share of Rs 33 lakh as subsidy. Each of these buses will cost up to Rs 2 crore, he said. The tender will be awarded to the company that quotes the lowest operating cost per kilometre. Trial runs with buses provided by the bidders on the results are being evaluated, he said.
With the Centre prioritising implementation of above scheme in metropolitan cities battling air pollution, Savadi said KSRTC is keen to emulate its success in the districts, especially on the inter-city routes such as Mangaluru-Udupi, Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi to start with. Leasing of these electric buses to private operators with KSRTC crew too at the helm is a likelihood going forward with a 60:40 profit sharing model visualised, he said.
Source : Times of India
