VISHAKHAPATNAM: In a bid to make public transport in Vishakhapatnam more environment-friendly, Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has allocated 100 electric buses for city transportation. The buses will start to ply on the city roads by the end of this financial year. A senior APRSTC official said, a total of 1000 electric buses will be procured for the entire state with the help of funds allocated by the Union Government out of which 100 buses have been allocated for the city.
According to the officials, the electric buses are more cost effective in comparison to diesel run buses, the cost of running an e-bus is around Rs 4 per Km, whereas diesel buses run at Rs 14-16 per km.
Currently, the 100 buses will ply in urban areas. In the next phase, they will also start running in rural areas.
“These buses need special driving skills and
the manufacturing company will impart training to drivers. Battery charging
units will also be set up at strategic depots in the city. The first one will
come up at Waltair Depot,” the official added.