Electric bus completes one month of trial run in Chandigarh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 11

After a one-month trial run of the first electric bus, the UT authorities have asked the manufacturing company to make some technical changes in the bus. The electric bus was flagged of by former UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore on August 11.

Officials of the Transport Department said a lot of 19 buses, which was to arrive by month-end, would arrive with the changes suggested to the company.

The officials said the department was satisfied with the bus after a trial run of a month. The department has identified some minor shortcomings and informed the company. The department had suggested to change the place of fire extinguishers, which were originally placed under the seat, and make some improvements in electric display boards. The company has assured the department that it would send 19 buses with these changes by the end of this month.

However, a decision on running the buses for the general public in October would be taken after the arrival of 19 buses on September 30 and another 20 by October. The procurement of another 40 electric buses is under process and is expected to be received by next year.

The department of heavy industries, Government of India, has sanctioned 80 electric buses under the Phase-II FAME India Scheme.

For the first lot of 40 buses, an agreement has been signed with M/s Ashok Leyland for 10 years. The model of the contract is gross cost contract and scope of operator/company includes procurement of buses, installation of adequate number of chargers, maintenance of buses, providing of driver for 10 years.

Changes suggested by Transport Department

Officials said the Transport Department had identified some minor shortcomings and informed the company about these. The department had suggested to change the place of fire extinguishers, which were originally placed under the seat, and make some improvements in electric display boards. The company had assured the department that it would send 19 buses with these changes by the end of this month.