Chennai: State transport minister MR Vijayabhaskar, and other higher-ups on Friday held discussions with UK-based C-40 agency regarding operation of electric buses in the city. Addressing the media after discussions at the secretariat, the minister said that Chennai was already included in the C-40 project, which aimed to protect the environment by operating electric buses.
"The transport department had already signed a MoU in the presence of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. The C-40 committee members have been camping here for four days to study various aspects related to the project like the routes in which electric buses could be operated and identifying places where transformers to recharge the batteries could be installed," the minister said, adding that the transport de-partment was taking all efforts to operate such buses soon.
The 4,000 mofussil buses announced earlier in the state Assembly, would also hit the road in a phased manner, the minister added.
Subsequently, explaining the difference between diesel and electric buses, the minister pointed out, "Even as the initial cost of electric buses were high, operational expenditure is fairly less, whereas such a facility is unavailable in the case of diesel buses. After a single recharge, electric buses can cover a distance of about 240 km."
To a question, Vijaybaskar said, "The department already had flagged off 515 mofussil sleeper-class buses fitted with toilets. Likewise, around 500 more buses would soon hit the road in a couple of months."
During the meeting, PWC Davidar, additional chief secretary (transport), and others were present.
