Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Feb 25: A new chapter in the public transport history of the coastal city is set to be written as Mangaluru prepares to welcome its first private electric bus. The eco-friendly vehicle will be inaugurated on February 26 and is expected to hit the roads shortly after the completion of registration formalities.

Ganesh Prasad Travels is pioneering this green initiative. The bus will operate on the prominent 'Route Number 27,' covering the Mangaladevi-State Bank-Mangaladevi circuit.

Dilraj Alva, the owner of Ganesh Prasad Travels, known for introducing innovative changes in the city's transport sector, is the force behind this transition. The 9-metre-long, 32-seater electric bus has been purchased from Pune-based Newton Auto. Notably, this is the first e-bus manufactured by the company to be deployed for commercial service.

The e-bus boasts a range of approximately 200 km on a full charge. It supports fast charging, allowing the battery to be topped up in just two hours, while slow charging takes about five hours.

Speaking about the infrastructure, Dilraj Alva mentioned that since they are starting with a single unit, there are no immediate plans for a dedicated charging station. Instead, the bus will utilise public charging points available at select petrol bunks across Mangaluru city.

The move is significant from an environmental perspective. Currently, Ganesh Prasad Travels operates five buses, each completing 19 trips per day. The new electric bus will replace one of the older fuel-powered vehicles.

"My primary goal is to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to the environment, beyond just profit and loss calculations," said Dilraj Alva. He aims to phase out all his diesel buses with electric versions in the future. To support this vision, he has co-founded a company named 'Charge Mobility Private Limited' with like-minded partners to transform the city's transport system into a completely green network.