It is planned to convert 35 thousand buses into electric vehicles by 2030, said Transport Minister B.Sreeramulu.
Responding to a question raised by Congress member Tanveer Chet during Question Time in the Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday, he said:
The Government of Karnataka has its own 35 thousand buses. There is a need to convert these buses into electric vehicles keeping in mind the environmental and pollution issues.
State-owned transport corporations are facing loss of revenue due to rising diesel prices. So, we have to convert all our buses to electric vehicles. Only then can transport companies make a profit. We are consulting in this regard.
It is planned to convert all buses to electric vehicles by 2030. That is, by 2030, we will make every effort to convert all 35,000 buses into electric vehicles.
Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation has not procured electric buses. However, it operates electric buses on contract basis.
Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMC) is operating electric buses under the Bolivuru City Project from December 2021 under a 12-year wholesale price contract. Running these buses at a cost per km of Rs. 64.67 is spent.
An order has been placed for procurement of 300 electric buses under the Central Government’s Rapid Transition and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAM-2) programme.
Of these, 75 electric buses are being operated from August 15, 2022. Running these buses at a cost per km of Rs. 61.90 is spent.
In this project, an order has been given on August 17, 2022 to operate 921 electric buses through Convance Energy Services. A km to operate these buses. Rs. 54 will be spent, he said.