BMTC to get first batch of e-buses by April-end

The BMTC is set to receive the first prototype of the 90 electric buses at the end of April.

Officials are looking to induct the entire fleet over the course of the next seven months to bridge the connectivity gap with Namma Metro.

The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which formed a joint venture with JBM recently, has bagged the contract to supply 90 buses funded under the Smart City Project. The contract was finalised in the middle of January and the JV was given three months to deliver the prototype.

Anjum Parvez, Principal Secretary (Transport), said the nine-metre-long midibuses will be mainly used for providing first- and last-mile connectivity to the metro stations.

“Midibuses offer the best solution as feeder buses due to the limited road width. Along with the 90 buses, we are also pursuing the leasing of 300 electric buses under the famed central scheme for which we are seeing an increase in the participation of the bidders,” he said.

Officials in the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) said the JV has promised to provide the buses by the end of April.

“Since NTPC is a central government PSU, a lot of approvals are required. Once the vehicle gets clearance, the prototype will be handed over to the BMTC by the end of April,” a senior official said.

A source said the BMTC may take about three to six days to approve the prototype and list out the modifications. “Though the contract gives one year to deliver all the 90 buses, we have been assured by the company that they would complete the supply within the next six months."

Officials said 10 buses were expected to begin commercial operations within the next three months and the BMTC will take up several studies to understand the technology and its benefit to the corporation, which is hit hard by the soaring fuel prices for the last three years.