Chandigarh plans to replace 85 diesel buses with CNG-run vehicles

The Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) plans to hire CNG buses to replace the ageing fleet of 85 diesel buses for local routes. At least 85 diesel buses operating on local routes will be condemned in November after the completion of their operational lifespan.

The buses will no longer be roadworthy and have to be taken off the road, said an official of the UT Transport Department.

The diesel buses, currently operating from Depot No 4, were to be replaced by electric buses. The existing fleet, which includes non-AC green and AC red automatic diesel buses, was allotted to the city under a special scheme during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

The official said the department would soon float a tender for hiring the CNG buses for nearly three months. Fifteen diesel buses would also be phased out in January or February next year, he said, adding that they were hopeful of getting 100 electric buses before the end of the financial year.

The department had submitted a proposal to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the procurement of electric buses under the Central government’s PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, so that the Administration could process the tender at its level and buy 100 electric buses as replacement of diesel buses. However, the proposal is yet to be approved.

The official stated that even if they get the approval, there would be a shortage of buses on the local routes by the end of November, as it would take two to three months to finalise the tender process and select the company. Even if the process was completed by next month, the selected company would not be able to deliver 100 buses till November, he said, adding that they had planned to hire CNG buses till the time they get electric buses.

The shortage of buses would affect routes in Chandigarh as well as Mohali and Panchkula as only CTU runs buses for public transportation in the tricity. Officials said buses could be diverted from long routes to local routes, but it would affect the long routes, which bring more revenue to the CTU.

The Administration plans to replace the entire fleet of 358 diesel buses of the CTU, running both on local as well as suburban routes, with electric ones by 2027-28.