Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation will study the feasibility of converting its fleet to environmentally friendly option of CNG buses.
The BMTC’s green initiative, a pilot project, will be started along with a study by the Center for Infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning (CISTUP) on how effective CNG gas is in mitigating air pollution. Sources say that under the pilot project, 5 to 10 new buses will be introduced and public response and emissions will be studied.
While the Dhabol-Bidadi gas pipeline has brought Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to Bengaluru two years ago, BMTC is also in talks with the Union government to decide on specifications for acquiring 271 CNG buses. Currently, the debate in transportation sector is about cost-effective specifications, which would not burn a hole in the loss-making public transport utility’s pockets.
Sources said that a low-floored CNG bus could cost around Rs. 80 to Rs. 85 lakh and this is being seen as too expensive. “We are now discussing specifications for normal floored buses that would be cheaper,” an official said.
In order to be able to effect the changeover of its fleet to CNG smoothly, the transport utility has also allotted land for GAIL, the gas company, to lay pipelines for supplying CNG to four strategically located depots across the city. “There is also one more spot where joint inspections have been held and we have allotted land. The deal is almost firmed up,” a senior official said.
Benefits of CNG
No adulteration and pilferage |
No carcinogens like benzene and aromatics |
Preferred fuel for city public transport with start-stop type operations |
Gas costs competitive compared to non-subsidised liquid fuel and prices more stable as well |
Can meet standards listed in Bharat Stage V that is equivalent to Euro V |
Source: Report of the Expert Committee on Auto Fuel Vision & Policy 2025
