Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal
Bantwal, Mar 23: The KSRTC’s eco-friendly electric (EV) buses, which were supposed to begin operations on the coast last June, are now likely to hit the roads from the upcoming June. If the schedule is followed, KSRTC’s initiative will serve as a gift to the coast on Environment Day.
The process of setting up charging stations is currently at the tender stage. Additionally, the central office has sought a list of routes for these buses. If everything goes as planned, KSRTC's EV buses will start operating in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi within three months.
KSRTC has floated a tender to introduce around 300 electric buses across the state under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model. The buses have been allocated to various KSRTC divisions, with Mangaluru set to receive 45 electric buses and Puttur 40. While the arrival of electric buses in Mangaluru is confirmed, the status for the Puttur division is yet to be finalized.
Three charging stations planned
A retender was issued to establish three charging stations to support the operation of EV buses in the coastal region. These stations are expected to be set up at the KSRTC depot in Kuntikana, Mangaluru bus stand, and Udupi bus stand.
More electric buses on the Dharmasthala-Mangaluru route?
Earlier, frequent breakdowns of buses on the Mangaluru (State Bank)-Dharmasthala route had prompted KSRTC to replace the faulty buses with more electric buses. Now, the plan is to deploy most of the electric buses from the Mangaluru and Puttur divisions on this route.
The Mangaluru division is also considering operating these buses within Mangaluru city, and on routes such as Mangaluru-Kasaragod, Mangaluru-Udupi-Manipal, and Bhatkal-Byndoor. Using EV buses for long-distance routes is challenging, as a fully charged bus can travel only about 300 km. Therefore, routes will have to be chosen accordingly.
The KSRTC central office has sought details on the planned routes, officials said. Newly trained drivers will operate the EV buses, while the conductors from existing buses will continue their roles.
Operations expected by June
The implementation of charging stations for EV buses is currently at the tender stage, and three locations have been identified in the Mangaluru division. These buses are expected to begin operations by June.