In a bid to curb air pollution in Delhi and address commuters’ woes, the state government on Wednesday approved hiring a consultant to run 1,000 electric buses. estimated to cost Rs. 2,500 crore, in the national capital as promised in its 2018-19 Budget.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced about the cabinet’ decision on tweeter, he said: “Cabinet approves hiring of consultant to run 1000 electric buses in Delhi. A big step in modernizing Delhi’s transport sector and reducing pollution.”
Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot appreciating the government’s move said its a“milestone in Delhi’s air pollution fighting efforts”.
Speaking to the reporters here in the national capital he said “1,000 electric buses will establish Delhi as a pioneer in clean public transport in India and globally. Delhi will have the highest number of electric buses as compared to any cities..
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the government has hired Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) Ltd as the consultant. It will present a detailed study of the project in three months.
The 1000 e-buses will be low will be low-floor buses and have AC. The buses will start running on Delhi roads within nine months.
To fight pollution, the Central government, too, is planning to give a target to state public transporters to deploy certain percentage of electric vehicles in their new orders.
According to a report, India currently has 1 to 1.5 lakh electric vehicles and it is expected to grow to about 5 per cent of the total vehicles in the next five years. Of about 24 million vehicles sold in India in 2017-18, electric vehicles accounted for barely about 1 per cent.
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