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Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation toys with idea of electric buses
Even as government is tightlipped on introducing Metro Rail in the city and capital region, the officials are mulling over automated electric buses, a la the ones in China and Malaysia. The government is biding time on Metro Rail and alternative systems of transport, as it has been facing opposition against acquiring land for the project.
Vijayawada: Even as government is tightlipped on introducing Metro Rail in the city and capital region, the officials are mulling over automated electric buses, a la the ones in China and Malaysia. The government is biding time on Metro Rail and alternative systems of transport, as it has been facing opposition against acquiring land for the project.
Highlights:
- Buses to run on electro magnets
- To have occupancy of 60
- Only 15 acres to be acquired for the project
The automatic electric buses are new poster boys for officials of Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation (AMRC), who failed to convince government on Metro Rail. Mooting of electric buses is in line with Union urban development minister’s directive to officials to work on other options that would please Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
A top official of AMRC told The Hans India that the automatic electric buses run with the help of electro magnets arranged inside the road/track laid for them. “The buses have occupancy of 60 passengers. These buses are battery operated and pollution-free. The cost of installation is one-third of the Metro Rail.
While the Metro Rail needed 78 acres for the two corridors (one from Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS) to Nidamanuru and the other from PNBS to Penamaluru), the automatic electric bus tracks require just 15 acres, including elevated stations,” he informed.
It may be mentioned here that the meetings with people for land acquisition have turned a big challenge for the government. The government’s plan to bring Metro Rail to Vijayawada has seen opposition from the land owners and some of them approached courts. On the other hand, activists are openly criticising the government for taking up a practically difficult task. Moreover, the funding for the Metro Rail is another challenge as the Centre was reluctant on funding the project.
People of Nidamanuru have been opposing Metro Rail as they believe that the coach depot would cause groundwater contamination besides air and noise pollution. Though the tenders were finalised for the Metro Rail, it may not be a problem to cancel the tenders anytime.
By Noor Shaik
