Though Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has floated tenders to acquire buses fuelled by compressed natural gas (CNG) to be deployed by April 2015, the question is whether the infrastructure to make the fuel accessible will be ready by then.
Guidelines awaitedAccording to a source in BMTC, the infrastructure could take up to two years to materialise as the Gas Authority of India (GAIL) has to do the feasibility study for setting up of the CNG filling stations. And, it is awaiting guidelines from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PnGRB) for setting up of CNG filling stations, which PnGRB might take at least a year to issue.
However, Ekroop Caur, Managing Director, BMTC, disagreed with the view that it would take a long time. She said: “I understand the infrastructure for CNG buses will be ready by next March and people will be able to commute by CNG buses by April 2015.” She also said BMTC’s existing fleet of 6,700 buses would not be junked and that the CNG buses would be operated along with other buses.
Tender process beginsBMTC floated a tender last Tuesday calling to procure 271 non air-conditioned CNG buses as per UBS-II norms under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) scheme at a cost of Rs. 176.15 crore.
BMTC has plans to set up four CNG filling stations besides the main tap off point at Agara in HSR Layout where it has given 225 sq m of land to GAIL on lease for 25 years. CNG filling stations are going to come up at Peenya, Yelahanka, Hennur, and Sumanahalli at the junction of Magadi Road and Ring Road.
