Highlights
- Mumbai to get zero-emission eco-friendly buses from March
- (BEST) has purchased 6 buses for Rs 10 crore
- The motto is to reduce air and noise pollution in Mumbai
New Delhi: Come March, Mumbai roads will see the new red and silver eco-friendly buses that will not contribute to the rising levels of pollution related to vehicular emission in the city. Yes, you heard it right! The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) received its first batch of four battery operated zero-emission buses earlier this week. The buses function on lithium-ion iron phosphate batteries that require three hours to be fully charged. With the passenger seating capacity of 30, these buses boast features like forced ventilation, charging point, and enough room for leg space for commuters. What’s more? In a bid to make it convenient for drivers to navigate out of crowded roads, these buses do not have traditional gearboxes or clutch pedals like regular buses.
BEST officials see this step as an effective way of reducing air and noise pollution in Mumbai.
The major source of pollution in the city comes from vehicles. With these eco-friendly buses on the roads, the situation will definitely improve, added a senior BEST official.
Currently, the BEST purchased six battery operated buses for ₹10 crore from Goldstone Infratech Limited, of which four have already been received and are parked at the BEST’s Backbay depot which has a unique charging facility.
In March last year, the BEST panel had approved the purchase of these eco-friendly buses at a cost of Rs 1.65 crore. The cost is much higher than the regular fossil fuel non-AC and AC buses, which are priced at Rs 50 lakh.
Watch: Gul Panag On Whether Electric Cars Can Really Replace Fossil Fuel Cars
Speaking about the air pollution, though Mumbai may not have seen Delhi-like deadly smog this season but air quality remained in ‘very poor’ category in the city. On the first day of the New Year, Mumbai’s air quality dropped to “very unhealthy” levels with pollutants in the air at 281. According to the metrological department, city’s air quality has been steadily dipping since Diwali.
