Nearly 1,000 electric buses to be introduced in Hyderabad

Authorities planning new routes targeting commuters from suburban areas

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) is planning to operate nearly 1,000 electric buses in all major and important routes in the city this year.

Authorities are preparing route maps and supervisors are being appointed in busy routes, focusing in on opportunities to increase the footfall of passengers.

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Authorities are taking steps to ensure that occupancy rate in electric buses reaches 90 per cent by operating EV buses on long routes and also planning new routes targeting commuters from suburban areas.

The Greater Hyderabad (GH) zone authorities are taking smart steps towards pollution free public transport. With the aim of running an overall 3000 electric buses in the future, the exercise has started to set up necessary charging stations.

While about 200 electric buses are already plying in the city, charging units have been set up at JBS, HCU, Miyapur and BHEL depots. Also charging unit at Hayathnagar is being planned.

The RTC is making plans to ply electric buses in phases on the city roads. Greater RTC has set a target of running 300 more buses in 2025. While a diesel bus emits 1,150 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre along with nitrous oxide and sulfur oxide, the EVs are zero-emission vehicles.

Many studies have revealed that electric buses reduce emissions by 90 per cent compared to diesel buses and emit no harmful gases. While the operation cost of diesel bus per kilometer is estimated to be about Rs 20, for electric bus it is anywhere around Rs 8.

If charging units and electric buses become operational across the city, the burden on RTC will be reduced apart from ensuring a pollution-free public transport.