Bengaluru: Wait for the city of the eco-friendly electric bus finally almost over.
The first BMTC electric bus under Bengaluru’s smart city fund is expected to arrive on Sunday.
BMTC officials said NTPC along with JBM Auto had received a contract in February to provide 90 non-AC midi e-bus (9 meters long) under the Smart City Bengaluru project.
This vehicle with passenger capacity 30 to 35 will be deployed for feeder services at the Metro station such as Mysuru Road, Byappanahalli, Banashankari and Indiranagar.
The first bus is likely to be deployed for feeder services at Kengeri Metro Station.
“The first e-bus has left the JBM bus factory in Kosi in Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) in a trailer on Wednesday night and is expected to reach the city on Sunday,” said an BMTC official.
Even though the plan is to spread the bus from the June 2021 phase, NTPC-JBM skipped several deadlines.
Officials say the remaining 89 e-buses will be appointed in stages on December 15.
Meanwhile, JBM Auto in submission of regulations on Thursday stated that all buses will be supplied in the current financial year.
Even though BMTC previously planned to keep their conductors, this bus would have a conductor.
NTPC-JBM will deploy drivers and also operate and maintain buses, in addition to arranging power filling infrastructure in the main depot and station.
“This will be a 12-year contract, where BMTC will pay them based on a per-km.
The company will mobilize the driver and take care of the operation and maintenance of the fleet.
We will mobilize the conductor and the cost will be the same as the non-AC diesel bus,” said an official .
Although BMTC is a transportation utility managed by the first state in the country to conduct a trial to run for e-buses in 2014, even a bus managed by the battery has been appointed to its fleet.
So far.
Ashok Leyland Bidder Lowest at Fame-II Tenderashok Leyland emerged as the lowest bidder to supply 300 non-AC e-buses approved under adoption and manufacturing of electric vehicles in India (FAME).
This is the five tenders under Fame-II because of the previous offer received lukewarm response.
Last week, BMTC opened a financial offer and Ashok Leyland quoted a little with Rs 48.9 per km followed by Tata Motors (RS 54.9 per km), Evy (Rs 57.97 per km), Evy Trans (OLECTRA) was 59, 5 rupees per km and Veera Vahana disqualified.
H owever, BMTC has not issued work orders to Ashok Leyland as further negotiations.
“The 12 meter bus is sworn in under Fame-II will have a seating capacity of 41,” said an BMTC official.
Meanwhile, KSRTC plans to operate 50 AC electric buses under FAME-II.
The source said Olectra, which quoted Rs 55 / Km emerged as the lowest bidder, however, KSRTC had not yet issued workers.
The Heavy Industries Department (DHI) has not expanded the FAMES-II deadline, which in March 2021.
However, BMTC officials and KSRTC looking for extensions quoted delays due to pandemics.