Bangalore: Country's first electric bus flagged off

Bangalore, Feb 28 (DHNS): The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) on Thursday launched the much-awaited India’s first electric bus — BYD K9 in the City for a trial period of three months.

Initially, the bus will ply between Majestic and Kadugodi (Route No 335E.) Later on, it will ply between Majestic and either the Kempegowda Airport or the ITPL. The fare of the bus will be the same as that of the Volvo buses run by BMTC on different routes with Rs 10 as the minimum fare.

On an average, the bus will operate six trips everyday between 7 am and 7 pm and will require six hours of charging at the depot Number 7, Kempegowda bus station, where the charging point has been set up. It will be able to run 250 km after being fully charged, said BMTC Managing Director Anjum Parvez.

Speaking at the launch, Prasanna Deshmukh, Managing Director, Utopia Automation Control, said 5,000 similar buses are currently run in several countries in Europe, including the Netherlands, the US, etc.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who flagged off the bus, said the initial cost of the bus, Rs 2.7 crore, is higher than the Volvo bus which comes at Rs 90 lakh approximately.

However, compared to Volvo, which works out to an average of Rs 18 per kilometre, this one works out at Rs 7 per km. “The company will work on the R&D of the bus and will make efforts to bring down the price from its current level. With the pollution levels rising, CNG buses and electric buses are the future of public transport,” he said.

The bus ride on the electric bus between Central Office of BMTC, Shanthinagar to Kempegowda Bus Station was a smooth ride similar to that of a Volvo bus. The bus did not make any sound while running. Needless to say, on its way to the Kempegowda bus station, the bus attracted quite a number of eyeballs with people clicking pictures, some motorists even stopping by to catch a glimpse of the bus. The bus even has a provision for carrying a wheelchair inside and is disabled-friendly.

Leave management kiosk

Earlier, the transport minister inaugurated a leave management kiosk having a touch screen facility for the KSRTC and BMTC employees which enables the employees to plan their leaves and get them sanctioned.

It also has an employee and attendance data management facility. The employees can get system-generated printout and SMS as proof of leave application and approval. “There are 1.2 lakh employees of KSRTC and BMTC. Similar leave management kiosks have been put up in Gulbarga. Soon, such kiosks will be put up for the convenience of the employees in every depot in Bangalore.”