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Fleet of electric buses to hit streets soon

Operational cost of electric buses is 50 per cent less than that of diesel.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad would see electric buses ply on its roads in the next three months.

The Union ministry of heavy industries selected the proposal of the TS government for support by according allotment of 40 electric buses for Hyderabad city.

This was part of the Centre’s drive to encourage electric vehicles and direct automobile companies to shift to manufacture of electric vehicles.

As part of incentives to promote the programme, the Centre would give more than 50 per cent grant to state governments to purchase electric buses.

The Union heavy industries ministry held a meeting on this matter with the state government officials in Delhi. The Telangana state government had nominated TSRTC executive director M. Ravinder to attend the meeting.

Mr Ravinder said tenders would be invited for supplying of 40 electric vehicles. He told Deccan Chronicle that the Centre would give more than 50 per cent grant for purchase of electric vehicles. Electric charging points would be set up in depots. A fully charged bus could run up to 250 km.

With the electric buses, TSRTC would save a lot on fuel. Ravinder said the operation cost was about half that of diesel buses.

While the cost to run a diesel bus was Rs 18 per km, that for an electric bus would be about '9. It would take around three months to put the project on road, he added.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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