J&K to get electric-buses by Mar end; SRTC still to finalize routes
AVINAV VERMA. Updated: 3/26/2019 10:57:21 AM
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JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) is all set to add 40 electric buses (e-buses) in its fleet by the end of this month; however, the corporation has failed to finalize the routes so far.
“Hopefully Tata Motors will start supplying 40 electric buses to the state before 31 March as per the contract. Out of total 20 buses will ply on Kashmir region and same number in the Jammu region,” Special Secretary, Transport Department Amit Sharma told The News Now.
However, Sharma added that the routes are not finalized yet for e-buses. “The corporation is working to find beneficial routes to ply electric buses in both regions,” he added.
Special Secretary, Transport Department said that the negotiations are going on with Indian Oil Corporation to provide six electric charge stations in the state under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Three electric charge stations will be established in Jammu while three in Kashmir.
Wishing anonymity, an official said “May the Tata motors will not deliver all the buses but out of 40 but for sure some buses will be delivered”.
“The buses worth Rupees 40 crore are eco friendly and may help to reduce the air pollution level in the state. An electric bus can carry around 40 passengers at a time and it will run for 150-kilometrs at the speed of 80 kilometers per hour after being charged for two hours,” an official said.
He added that only 0.8 units of electricity will be spent on every kilometer. The fare will be fixed on per kilometer based.
J&K will be among seven other top states of the country where these buses are being introduced. These buses are already introduced in Telangana, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
The e-buses may boost revenue of JKSRTC. The corporation has been into loses due to mismanagement and monopoly of private transporters.
The corporation is not able to generate profit due to non-operation of hundreds of vehicles.
Updated On 3/26/2019 11:00:00 AM