Govt sanctions 100 more electric buses to NMC
| Date :17-Sep-2019 |
Staff Reporter :
Central Government has sanctioned 100 more electric buses to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and same would reach city by December end stated Jeetendra alias Bunty Kukde, Chairperson, Transport Committee, on Monday. He said as per norms, Centre provides 40 per cent subsidy for buses while cost of 9 metre buses comes to Rs 1.40 crores. As NMC itself does not have deep pockets they have decided to go for hybrid model for procuring the buses. The civic body would hand over operations of buses to the company that manufacture electric buses and ink an agreement for paying them fixed rate per km. "In case of Tejaswini buses we have got lowest rate in the country, that is Rs. 42.50/km and in future approximately same formula would hold true, Kukde stated further.
Previously to NMC had an agreement with Scania that operated air conditioned buses on certain routes of city. The difference in new model is that ownership of buses would be with NMC while company gets per km charge for operation of buses in city. While electric buses come in three models, nine metre, 12 metres and 18 metres but NMC is interested in small buses keeping in mind road width in city, Kukde stated. "Once this 100 vehicles arrive then we would be in much better position to operate Aapli Bus in more efficient manner," he informed newspersons while talking informally on Monday at NMC office. Another development that he shared is about opening a new depot at Koradi that is developed by erstwhile Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT). They are now demanding Rs seven lakh rent per month that is too steep and NMC has urged Guardian Minister to provide the same land to civic body.
Explaining the contention, he said that since land is being demand for public utility same be provided on Rs 1 lease and if the depot becomes operational it would envisage savings on fuel cost. The Depot at Koradi can come handy in servicing area of Khaparkheda, Sillewada, Walni and surrounding areas more effectively. As to savings the buses need not to travel all the way to current depots at Hingna, Khapri or Patwardhan ground and can be serviced at Koradi depot thus savings of nearly Rs. 30 lakhs per month, Kukde stated. Further the department is planning to set-up another depot at Wathoda where 10 acre land of NMC is lying vacant. This would enable to run services to localities in Wathoda, Umrer road and Nandanvan in better manner. Krishna Khopde, MLA, East Nagpur assembly segment, met with Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar on Monday and request to build a compound wall and level the ground to enable starting of depot.