Luxury public buses to curb private vehicle use

New Delhi, July 13

The government is looking to revamp public transport through introduction of double-decker luxury buses run on alternative fuels, with an aim to curb private vehicle use, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.

Volvo is ready to run buses on methanol, which can easily be manufactured in the country, Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari said. The government is also planning to construct a separate lane for running electric trucks and buses on the Delhi-Mumbai corridor, which can also run on diesel in city areas, he added.

“Plans are underway to introduce the double-decker fleet of luxury buses to link cities like Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Ludhiana. The fleet will be air-conditioned with services that include hostesses (on board)... and I assure you the charges will be much economic, less than present, as these will run on alternative fuel,” Gadkari said on the sidelines of an Assocham event here.

The minister said these buses will run on alternative fuel like methanol, ethanol or electricity as it has been the present government’s priority and policy to promote clean fuel and cut on the huge Rs 7 lakh crore import bills that India incurs per annum.

A consultant has been appointed to study automobile standards of Germany, France, UK and Sweden — right from fuel and will accept its recommendations and run vehicles accordingly,” the minister said. He said India, specially Delhi, needs to reform transport system as petrol and diesel vehicles caused much pollution. — PTI