Noida to get 25 e-buses next year, a first in state
Noida: Notifying procurement of electric buses, the UP government has declared Noida as the pilot city where environment-friendly vehicles would be launched next year.
A total of 1,000 electric buses have to be rolled out in a phased manner by 2030, out of which 250 would hit the road next year. At least 25 of these will be for Noida. These would be added to the existing transport network of 10 smart cities — Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Mathura, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Allahabad, Gorakhpur and Prayagraj (Allahabad) — which would be called ‘Model Electric Mobility City’. Besides this, all school buses, ambulances and government vehicles in the 10 cities would run on electricity by 2030.
On August 13, the Yogi Adityanath government introduced the electric vehicles manufacturing policy, whose objective was to ensure 70% of public transport vehicles are run on electricity.
Apart from reducing air pollution, the large-scale production and procurement of electric buses would also result in proliferation of hybrid electric parts, battery equipment and other ancillary units in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad, stated the policy document.
On November 29, the state government directed the managing director of the UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) to begin execution work. “Noida would be the first city in the state to get electric buses. We will soon invite bids and begin procurement work with the help of the urban transport directorate,” said UPSRTC managing director Raj Shekhar.
In the next few weeks, officials will start identifying bus depots in Noida where charging stations can be installed to support the operations.
Apart from nearly 2,000 private buses, state roadways and Delhi Transport Corporation have a fleet of about 600 that is run on CNG fuel.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
