Electric buses to hit Warangal roads soon

Warangal: The denizens in Warangal city will have a respite from belching black clouds of smoke emitted from the diesel-run buses with the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) is all set to ply battery-powered electric buses soon.

The TSRTC is to get a fleet of 25 electric buses under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) Phase – II. It may be mentioned here that Department of Heavy Industries (DHI) had approved the RTC's proposal for of 325 electric buses for the State.

Of which, Warangal will get 25 e-buses under the Smart City category and the rest earmarked for Hyderabad, this in tune with the Centre's FAME India scheme in order to push for clean mobility in public transportation. The first lot of five zero-emission eBuzz K9 electric buses, manufactured by the Olectra-BYD, have

already gone operational in Hyderabad earlier this month. It's as part of contract for deployment of 40 AC Electric buses which TSRTC has awarded on Gross Cost Contract basis to Olectra-BYD.

These air-conditioned buses which have a capacity of 39+1 (driver) seats will provide utmost comfort to the senior citizens and differently

abled when they board or get down from the bus.

These low floor 39+1 (driver) seating capacity air-conditioned buses will provide utmost comfort to the senior citizens and differently-abled when they board or get down from the bus due to the kneeling mechanism and the electronically controlled air suspension. The e-buses have modern passenger amenities besides equipping fire safety measures.

The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery that can be fully charged in just about 4 hours enables the bus to travel up to 300 kilometers (single charge). It's learnt that the e-buses to have real time tracking, passenger information safety, manually openable door, glass hammer, medical kit and fire extinguisher. The addition of e-buses in the city is likely to reduce the carbon footprint in line with the raising concern over the pollution levels.

Speaking to The Hans India, TSRTC Warangal Regional manager Anchuri Sridhar said: "The government had sanctioned 25 e-buses to Warangal. It's a sustainable mobility revolution.

We will get them in due course of time as the operational planning is being done by the higher authorities.

Once we get them, the plan is to ply them within the tri-cities of Warangal-Hanamkonda-Kazipet and suburban areas."