By Our Special Correspondent
At least 10-20 new electric buses are likely to ply on Tirumala Ghat roads during the annual Brahmotsavam from September 27. Officials of Alipiri RTC Depot conducted a trial run of electric bus successfully on Monday. On the ghat roads.
To curb carbon emissions in the Tirumala hills, the state government has decided to replace all diesel buses with e-buses in a phased manner. In the first phase, APSRTC will operate 50 e-buses on Tirupati-Tirumala routes. A total of 50 buses will be available on Ghat roads by December.
Government has sanctioned 100 e-buses for Tirupati region. In this, 50 buses will run between Tirupati-Tirumala, 12 between Tirupati-Renigunta railway station and airports, 10 buses between Tirupati-Nellore-Kadapa and another 8 buses between Tirupati-Madanapally.
APSRTC officials expect Olectra Greentech LTD, the contracted agency to supply e-buses, to deliver at least 10 buses before Brahmotsavam. Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy is likely to launch e-buses.
Alipiri depot manager Haribabu said that depending on the number of buses and the availability of qualified drivers for the RTC, they are thinking of officially launching e-buses during Brahmotsavam.
“An electric bus has arrived at Alipiri depot and the registration of the new bus was completed on Sunday. Initially, interested drivers will be trained in the new e-bus,” explained the official. The new e-buses can travel 240 km on a single charge.
RTC officials have developed charging infrastructure at Alipiri depot where a bus can be fully charged in two hours. Also, the passenger fares of RTC and AC e-buses, which are charging Rs.90 one-way between Tirupati-Tirumala, have not been finalized yet.
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