BENGALURU:
The maiden trial run of the first electric bus of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation began in the city on Thursday.
Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who holds the transport portfolio, was part of the maiden ride from Shantinagar bus stand to Vidhana Soudha.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa who inspected the bus at the Vidhana Soudha, expressed his pleasure over the initiative of the BMTC.
Later, speaking to reporters, Savadi said the 12-metre long, 35-seater electric bus is fully air-conditioned, which has an automatic gearbox.
The bus has the capacity to run about 200 to 250 km in a single charge with an air-conditioner in the traffic conditions.
ಶಾಂತಿನಗರದ BMTC ಬಸ್ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದಿಂದ ವಿಧಾನಸೌಧದವರೆಗೆ ಇಂದು ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಪ್ರಾಯೋಗಿಕ ಸಂಚಾರ ನಡೆಸಿ ಆಗಮಿಸಿದ ಎಲೆಕ್ಟ್ರಿಕ್ ಬಸ್ ಅನ್ನು ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿದ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @BSYBJP ರವರು ನೂತನ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯನ್ನು ಶ್ಲಾಘಿಸಿದರು. ಉಪಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಾರಿಗೆ ಸಚಿವ @LaxmanSavadi, BMTC ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ನಂದೀಶ್ ರೆಡ್ಡಿ, ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು. pic.twitter.com/yPkfvLGKiP
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) October 22, 2020
According to a statement issued by the BMTC, the bus that can operate with 100 to 125 passenger consistent load has wheelchair provision with kneeling feature for specially-abled and senior citizens.
The vehicle has various other features like USB charger provision for mobile charging, emergency alarm, stop buttons and emergency exits for safety purposes, the officials said adding that the electronically controlled air suspension with disc brakes at front and rear adds to its safety.
The Department of Heavy Industries (DHI) of the Government of India has sanctioned 300 electric buses to the BMTC for operational cost model under the Phase-2 of FAME India scheme, the statement read.
Under the scheme, the DHI will provide a maximum demand incentive of Rs 55 lakh for each bus. PTI
