CM Devendra Fadnavis flags off e-buses in Nashik on Friday
Nashik : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday flagged off 50 electric buses inducted into Nashik’s public transport system under the Centre’s PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme.
The e-buses were dedicated to the public by the CM before the Kumbh Bhakti Sangam programme in Nashik city.
E-buses, 12-metre-long and air-conditioned vehicles, will begin operating on existing city routes from Sept 1. Citilinc’s existing CNG buses incur an average operating cost of nearly Rs 97 per kilometre, according to Nashik Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (NMPML). However, they generate about Rs 48 per km in revenue, resulting in a loss of around Rs 49 per km. On the other hand, diesel buses cost around Rs 77 per km to operate and earn around Rs 42 per km with a loss of Rs 35 per km. In contrast, e-buses is estimated to cost around Rs 83 per km. Under the Centre’s scheme, the Union govt will provide a subsidy of Rs 24 per km, bringing down the effective operating cost to Rs 59 per km. It will reduce losses to nearly Rs 11 per km, said Vijaykumar Munde, chief executive officer of NMPML. E-buses would reduce operating losses by around 30-35% when compared to the existing fleet, said officials, adding that compared with CNG buses, the savings have been estimated at Rs 34 per km, while the savings over diesel buses were projected at Rs 24 per km.
Civic officials said the e-buses are expected to improve the financial viability of the city bus service by substantially reducing operating costs while offering a sustainable and greener mode of transport to the commuters. Officials said improved service quality and reliability could encourage more residents to shift from private vehicles to public transport, helping ease traffic congestion in the city. Officials said the civic transport body also plans to gradually reduce the number of diesel buses in the coming years and replace them with electric vehicles as part of its long-term goal of building an environmentally sustainable and economically efficient public transport system.
Apart from financial benefits, the civic transport body expects the e-buses to enhance passenger experience through quieter, smoother and pollution-free travel.