Electric buses from Mumbai to Nashik will start only after proper tests said The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).
Ranjit Singh Deol, the managing director of MSRTC speaking to TOI said “We have recently floated tender for 200 e-buses. A private party will run them on lease. The routes will be decided after the tender is awarded. All buses will be air-conditioned,”
Certain technical issues had to be taken into count for plying e-buses in the ghat sections.
Deol added “There are some technical issues in the ghat sections, which cannot be overlooked. There will be proper studies and some test runs before we arrive at a decision on whether to run the e-buses in these sections or not.”
Charging stations for these electric buses would be installed at the arrival and the departure points.It will also be available at some other points along the routes.
Inspection and studies have started to set up the charging
points says the report.
An official of the MSRTC in Pune speaking to the publication said “In the past
few years, the prices of diesel have increased. So, the MSRTC is facing
financial burden. It forced the department to add optional transport mode in
its fleet. The ministry of road, transport and highways has drawn road map for
e-vehicles. In Pune, the PMPML (Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited)
has started plying e-buses and they are performing well. BEST in Mumbai is also
procuring them.”