E-bus Launch : TMC hopes to Spark eco-friendly Commuting Trend

06th June, 2018

THANE: The Thane municipal administration, on Tuesday, unveiled its first electricity-powered bus that will soon be inducted in the Thane public transport fleet.

The 32-seater bus, was inducted into public service on Tuesday in the presence of municipal commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal and Consul General of France, Yves Perrin. However, officials informed that the commercial operations of these buses will begin only after relevant formalities to operate them are secured from the state transport department and routes for running these services are finalized.

“The e-powered bus has now been officially inducted into our fleet and will soon be pressed for public use. We are working towards inducting more eco-friendly buses in our fleet as our contribution towards the centre’s vision to make India a 100% electricity vehicle nation by 2030,” informed Jaiswal.

The bus is part of the 10 vehicles to be pressed into the civic public transport system in the first phase of Jaiswal’s plan to provide an environment friendly and convenient ride for Thane commuters. Each of the air-conditioned buses that will possibly ply on the Thane-Mumbai routes will have Wi-Fi services in addition with air-cooled environs, mobile charging points, CCTV cameras at both door, to name a few. The buses will also have facility for physically challenged to board and alight along with separate seating space.

Officials informed that the 32-seater bus is completely powered by battery and will run for nearly 220 kms on a single charge. A charging stations has been constructed at the Anand nagar depot. The vehicle will not make any noise while travelling on road without any emissions, claimed officials.

However, officials informed that it may take some time for the bus to be commercially operated on city roads. “Few formalities like registration of the bus with the state government and finalizing routes for operating the services have to be chalked out,” informed a senior official associated with the project.

The first of the 10 buses that were to be inducted in the fleet and operated as part of the phase one early this year arrived months later in may end only to be grounded for want of clearances from the state transport authorities. However, officials said they were confident of inducting the bus in operations soon as the same would possibly be finalized by the month end.

 

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com