Public Transport In Telangana Goes Electric As 40 Electric Buses Hit Hyderabad Roads

New Delhi: Giving a green and clean spin to the public transport in the city of Hyderabad, on Wednesday (March 6), Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) inaugurated its first fleet of 40 electric buses in the city. The electric buses will ply on six different routes, providing connectivity between the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad and various localities of twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The electric buses were flagged off from Miyapur depot two by Sunil Sharma, Principal Secretary Telangana, Roads and Building, Transport Commissioner of state and Managing Director TSRTC.

Also Read: Hyderabad Metro Introduces Rental Electric Car Service To Combat Air Pollution

As part of the FAME India (Faster Adoption and Manufacture of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) Scheme that focusses on encouraging the production and use of electric and hybrid vehicles by providing subsidies, Hyderabad was selected as one of the 11 Indian cities for the introduction of the electric vehicle based public transport. Today, Hyderabad has become the first city in the country to run electric buses sourced under the FAME India Scheme.

Also Read: The City Of Nawabs, Lucknow, Gets Its First Electric Bus, 39 More To Come Within Next Four Months

As part of the plan, a total of 100 low floor AC electric buses are to be introduced in the state. While 40 have got the green signal, the remaining 60 buses will be launched in the second phase.

For the deployment of electric buses in the city, TSRTC has collaborated with Olectra Greentech Ltd (formerly Goldstone Infratech Ltd), electric vehicles provider and BYD – automobile manufacturer. As per the deed, TSRTC has rented buses from Olectra for a period of 12 years at a cost of Rs. 35.54 per km (from 251km – 300km) and Rs. 33.12 per km thereafter.

Cost of one bus is Rs. 2.50 crore out of which Rs. 1 crore is being born by the central government under FAME scheme and the remaining amount is being taken care of by Olectra, said M Ravindar, Executive Director (Engineer), TSRTC, while speaking to NDTV.

Also Read: Pollution Free Electric Autos For Garbage Collection, Hyderabad Tackles Two Problems With One Solution

Delighted with the launch of electric buses and deployment of 100th electric bus in India, Zhang Jie, executive director of BYD private Limited, said, “Another milestone for Olectra-BYD EV journey in India. We flagged off another 40 buses in Hyderabad; this is also the largest e-bus fleet in India. Thanks Telangana.”

Salient Features Of Olectra-BYD Electric Buses

1. 12 metre, air conditioned, low floor bus having a capacity of 39 passengers +1 (driver) seats is a zero-emission bus.
2. Once fully charged, electric buses can run for 250 km.
3. Battery management system (BMS) monitors the safety, voltage, and temperature of the bus.
4. Provides onboard maps, navigation, WiFi and radio facility and are equipped with interior lighting and cameras.
5. Kneeling facility which brings down the height of the bus makes it easy for specially-abled and senior citizens to board and get down from the bus.
6. Electric buses have active safety technologies, including collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking, LED fog lights and are capable of avoiding skidding while breaking.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu To Get ‘Green Buses’ Soon, Becomes The First State To Sign ‘Clean Bus Declaration’

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swachh India campaign lends support to the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign aims to spread awareness about hygiene and sanitation, the importance of building toilets and making India open defecation free (ODF) by October 2019, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014. Over the years, the campaign has widened its scope to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and menstrual hygiene. The campaign has also focused extensively on marine pollution, clean Ganga Project and rejuvenation of Yamuna, two of India’s major river bodies.