KSRTC Expands Fleet with Addition of 300 Electric Buses
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) plans to install 300 electric buses to improve connectivity to Bengaluru’s surrounding districts. Even though the buses are being purchased under GCC contracts, the company anticipates higher expenses in the event that a central government subsidy is not provided.
In an attempt to increase the number of electric buses, KSRTC intends to purchase 300 additional of these vehicles. These buses will make it easier for travelers to connect with Bengaluru’s neighboring districts and other places that are less than 100 kilometers away.
Shorter routes will be the focus of KSRTC’s experimental electric bus operation. It currently has fifty electric buses that were purchased with FAME II funding. Over the previous seven to eight months, these buses have traveled seven to eight lakh kilometers. The majority of buses travel between Bangalore and Davangere
These buses go between Virajpet and Madikeri, Bengaluru and Mysuru, Davangere and Shivamogga, and Chikkamagaluru. The majority of the routes covered by the EV Power Plus buses are over 200 kilometers and are mostly used to link Bengaluru to other cities in Karnataka. These buses have a 250 km maximum range on a single charge.
Now, KSRTC wants to experiment by routing these buses on shorter routes. “These 300 buses will have the capacity to run 180 km under a single charge. There will be 12-metre non-AC buses with disabled-friendly features. These buses will have to cover to and fro within 180 km of range. Therefore, we are looking at shorter distances. These buses will connect Bengaluru to nearby districts,” said a senior KSRTC official.
Although no tender has been invited, KSRTC intends to purchase the buses under the GCC model; however, officials anticipate that operating costs would increase even under the GCC model.