30 electric buses to ply in Shimla soon

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 15

The HRTC has decided to purchase 30 electric buses, said Transport Minister Gobind Thakur. Each bus will cost for Rs 76.97 lakh.

These electric buses will be run in the capital city here within six months, giving a push to smart and pollution-free public transport.

“In an open tender, we got seven bids and have placed order to the lowest bidder for buying 30 electric buses”, Thakur said.

In contrast, the previous Congress government purchased 24-seater 25 electric buses at the fag-end of its regime in 2017. The cost of each bus was reported to be Rs 1.91 crore, whereas the cost of the bus prevailing at that time was around Rs 90 lakh or so in the market, Thakur said.

“Our focus is on improving the HRTC operation and give better service to the people. We will take the investigation into the electric bus purchase scam by the previous government to its logical end”, Thakur said.

Each new bus will have 30-seat capacity. “Its charging time is less than 60 minutes and the drive range is 150 km. Each bus will cost us Rs 76.97 lakh”, said HRTC CGM, HK Gupta.

The HRTC was procuring electric buses under FAME India Scheme, which was launched in April 2015 by the Ministry of Heavy Transport and Public Enterprise to promote pollution- free and smart public transport in the cities.

Gupta said the Centre contributed 75 per cent of the cost, while the state government pitched in with the rest for purchase of 25 electric buses in 2017.

“But in the case of purchase of 30 new electric buses this year, the Centre will give 60 per cent while 40 per cent will come from the state treasury”, he informed, adding that he was not involved in the purchase of 25 electric bus in 2017.

30 more in the fleet

• An order has been placed to buy 30 electric buses 
• Each bus to cost Rs 76.97 lakh
• The Centre will give 60 per cent while 40 per cent will come from the state treasury