Karnataka: KSRTC may operate 50 e-buses on 6 inter-city routes

BENGALURU: You could soon travel in KSRTC electric buses from Bengaluru to Mysuru, Madikeri, Virajpet, Chikkamagaluru, Davanagere and Shivamogga.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation identified these six inter-city routes to operate 50 AC electric buses under the second phase of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme.
Officials said Hyderabad-based Olectra Greentech Limited (OGL) emerged the lowest bidder in KSRTC’s FAME-II tender. It will be a 12-year contract in which KSRTC will pay on a per km basis. Olectra reportedly quoted Rs 62/km, including electricity, in the tender and reduced it to Rs 55/km after negotiations with KSRTC officials.
“The KSRTC board is expected to approve the tender at its next meeting. Once cleared, we will approach the department of heavy industries (DHI) to extend the FAME-II deadline, which was March 2021. We have already intimated them about the delays due to the pandemic. We will issue a work order to the firm after DHI’s nod,” said a senior KSRTC official.
He said Olectra will take care of operations and maintenance of these buses. “The firm will also deploy a driver and set up charging stations at these locations. But we will deploy conductors. DHI is giving a subsidy of Rs 55 lakh per bus. But there are not enough manufacturers in the inter-city segment,” said an official.
The 12-metre-long AC bus can accommodate 43 passengers and run up to 250-300km on single charge. E-buses will be a relief for KSRTC, which is struggling due to soaring diesel prices. The corporation is getting diesel at Rs 88 per litre now. “The operational cost of a Volvo diesel bus is Rs 56 per km. With diesel prices increasing every day, it will be profitable to operate electric buses in the long run,” the official added.
No progress in BMTC’s FAME-II tender
BMTC is yet to finalise the tender to induct 300 non-AC electric buses sanctioned under phase II of FAME scheme. The utility had already lost Rs 80 crore subsidy for 80 e-buses under FAME-I. Sources said the deadline for FAME-II was March-end. However, BMTC has sought an extension.
It has floated the fifth tender under FAME-II since the earlier ones evoked poor response. Five firms — Ashok Leyland, Veera Vahana, Tata Motors, Olectra Greentech Ltd and JBM — have participated in the process. “They have to show proof of the concept or trials before opening the financial bid. But the process was delayed due to Covid-19,” said a BMTC official.
Separately, BMTC will induct 90 non-AC e-buses under the Bengaluru Smart City project. “The first e-bus under Smart City funds will be inducted by September and the remaining 89 by December,” said an official.