Hyderabad: Telangana State Road Transport Corporation officials said two companies qualified to supply electric buses Hyderabad under the PM E-Drive scheme, as the state plans to induct 2,000 buses in phases across Greater Hyderabad.
According to RTC sources, EV Trans Private Limited, a Megha Group company, qualified under Lot-1, the low-floor category. The company will supply 1,085 electric buses. Meanwhile, Greensel Mobility qualified under Lot-2, the standard-floor category, to supply 915 buses.
Both companies will supply the buses on a rental basis. In addition, they will handle operations and maintenance. As per the scheme, RTC will pay rent on a per-kilometre basis.
The Centre introduced the PM E-Drive scheme to cut air pollution and promote public transport. Therefore, the scheme targets cities with populations above 40 lakh. Hyderabad features among nine major cities selected nationwide.
Along with Hyderabad, the list includes Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Surat and Ahmedabad. Across the country, authorities invited tenders for 10,900 electric buses under the programme.
RTC sources said EV Trans and Greensel Mobility emerged as L-1 bidders. As a result, both firms quoted the lowest rates in their respective categories.
Centre to negotiate rental terms for electric buses Hyderabad
For the electric buses Hyderabad project, the central government will now hold talks with the two firms to further reduce rental charges. However, officials have not disclosed the per-kilometre rates quoted by the companies.
An RTC senior official said the negotiations would conclude within seven to ten days. Subsequently, RTC management will place the proposal before the state government for final approval.
At present, more than three-fourths of buses operating in Greater Hyderabad run on diesel. Moreover, many of these vehicles are ageing. Therefore, RTC officials said the induction of 2,000 electric buses would ease pollution and improve commuter comfort.
In addition, officials said electric buses would reduce exhaust fumes and lower noise levels on city roads. As a result, RTC also expects savings on fuel and maintenance costs.
Once the electric buses begin operations, RTC plans to shift existing diesel buses to district routes in phases. Consequently, officials said this would improve transport services outside Hyderabad.
The Telangana Rising Vision Document–2047 outlines major transport reforms. Currently, RTC operates 9,878 buses across the state. Under the plan, the government aims to convert the entire fleet into green buses by 2039.
