Srinagar: Despite tall claims of the government to run electric buses in Srinagar in the month of June, the buses are nowhere to be seen.
Disappointed by the failure of the government to live up to its promise, concerned citizens sought immediate measures.“ An official told a local English daily that the buses were expected in Srinagar around Eid. “We were expecting that the buses may reach Srinagar ahead of Eid and devotees who would throng mosques and shrines for Eid prayers during the day could be ferried in these buses only. However, we don’t know what happened where and why the buses haven’t reached here,” he said adding that there are possibilities that these buses couldn’t find charging facilities en-route to Srinagar from Jammu and that is why some alternatives are being explored.
The government had earlier claimed that it has a vision to electrification in transport sector, as many as 40 electric buses would soon hit the roads.
The government also made an official announcement that the Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation is soon going to introduce 40 electric buses in both Jammu and Srinagar regions likely from the month of June. It was informed that air and noise pollution free, electric buses will run on separate routes in both Jammu and Srinagar regions these lower floor buses will be added to the State Road Transport.
It was also stated that an order of 255 buses was placed to the manufacturing company across the country including 40 for Jammu and Kashmir and that J&K will be among six other top cities of the country where these buses are being introduced.
Reports informed earlier that JKSRTC authorities have already ordered 40 electric buses to the Tata Motors, which will be supplying the vehicles to J&K, Kolkatta, Indore, Lucknow, Assam and Jaipur cities.
Before setting the hi-tech buses into motion, Tata Motors will train the Corporation drivers while workshops will also be conducted to impart skill training to the mechanical staff about handling and maintenance.
Asserting that the buses will have fixed fare, an official said that each bus, which will be nine-metre long having a seating capacity of 30 passengers, will run for 150-kilometrs after being charged for two hours and only 0.8 units of electricity will be spent on every kilometre.
Per kilometre, Rs 2 to Rs 3 fare will be fixed and the bus will run at the speed of 80 kilometres per hour and said that the introduction of electric buses will definitely generate economy for the under ‘crisis’ State Road Transport Corporation.
Each bus costs around Rs one crore and they are being manufactured in a special plant at Karnataka,” they said adding that a special team of JKSRTC officials, also visited to Karnataka to review the manufacturing of the buses.