First one out, NMC to convert 50 more diesel buses to CNG

Nagpur: Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday dedicated the city’s first CNG bus to citizens.
In the first phase, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) will convert 50 more diesel-run standard buses into CNG. Rawmatt Industries Private Limited has converted the diesel bus into CNG. Transport committee chairman of the NMC Bunty Kukde said the firm has borne the expenditure of installing CNG kits costing Rs3.25 lakh. “The firm will be recovering the amount from the operators by charging Rs5 extra for every kilogram of gas. The cost of CNG will be Rs50 per kg,” he said.

Currently, for operating 150 standard buses, the NMC is paying Rs52 per km per bus to the three Red bus operators. “With CNG, this cost will reduce to Rs45-47 per km and if all diesel buses are converted into CNG, NMC could save Rs60-70 crore per annum,” said Gadkari.

He also appealed to the NMC to utilize sludge from STP for methane gas, which too can be used as an alternate fuel for the city buses. Kukde said, the NMC will phase-wise convert all 337 diesel-run buses into CNG.

Kukde also said the NMC has also started the process to procure five electric buses. The civic body had received Rs9.25 crore from the state government in 2017 under Tejaswani scheme to purchase 30 buses for women-only service. According to Kukde, earlier the NMC had decided to purchase diesel buses, but later decided to purchase electric buses as it will reduce the expenditure to operate the buses substantially. Now, the process to procure six 32-seater electric buses is in final stage.

He also informed the gathering that by this month, the NMC will start procuring 45 mini buses for congested routes. Kukde also appealed Gadkari to ask the civic body to convert all official vehicles to convert from diesel to CNG or any other eco-friendly fuel. Gadkari too endorsed the suggestion as it would save civic body’s at least Rs1-1.5 crore per annum. Mayor Nanda Jichkar announced similar conversion of her official diesel car into CNG first.

District guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLAs Sudhakar Kohle, Sudhakar Deshmukh, Krishna Khopde, former mayor Pravin Datke, ruling party leader Sandip Joshi, leader of opposition Tanaji Wanve, municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar and others were present.

180 MLD water to be diverted for drinking purpose: Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari said with the reuse of almost 300 MLD treated sewage water by power companies, their 180 MLD reservation of water from Totladoh will be diverted for drinking purpose which will solve the water crisis of the city.

District guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the Maharashtra government has already approached the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh government to release water from Chaurai dam. “The MP government assured to take the decision to release 5 MLD water in Totladoh reservoir by April end,” he claimed.