The Transport Department is considering inducting electric buses in the Capital’s public transportation sector, according to Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot.
Given the substantial price tag on such vehicles, however, the government is currently in the process of conducting a cost-benefit analysis to ascertain future course of action in relation to such vehicles, he said.
“The Centre is laying much emphasis on the utilisation of such vehicles for public transportation in view of their positive impact on air pollution levels in metropolitan cities and the fact that their maintenance costs are relatively low in comparison to other public transportation vehicles,” said Mr. Gahlot.
“However, the cost of such vehicles when compared to low-floor buses, which the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) operates, are remarkably high – around three to four times – due to which we are in the process of conducting a cost-benefit analysis before taking the final decision,” the Minister added.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government introduced an electric bus, on a trial basis, in March last year. It is managed by the DTC and plies between the Delhi Secretariat and Central Secretariat.
Low operating cost
The bus was provided to the government by a Chinese firm, which had developed it, and registered an operating cost of around ₹12 per kilometre.
The operating cost of a CNG-run DTC low-floor bus is ₹18 per kilometre.
According to a senior government official, the plan procure such vehicles had been discussed on several occasions within the department during the six-month trial of the electric bus even as a number of presentations had been made to the Transport Minister.
One of these presentations was made by the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS), recently, claimed a source.
As per another source, no buses have been added to the low-floor fleet of the DTC since 2010. Currently, 5,600-odd buses are operated by the DTC and the DIMTS. Sources said that Delhi needs around 16,000 buses.
