West Bengal to add 350 CNG buses, considers more electric vehicles
West Bengal Transport Department
is planning to procure around 350 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses as part of its public transport fleet expansion, a senior official said. The move is aimed at reducing carbon emissions and diversifying fuel sources.
A separate proposal to acquire 25 electric buses is also under review by the relevant authorities, reports PTI.
No plans to phase out electric buses, says official
Amid reports suggesting a possible phase-out of electric buses due to high maintenance costs, shorter battery life, and challenges in sourcing spare parts, the official said there were no such plans.
'There is no such plan,' the official told PTI. 'While the process of procuring 350 CNG buses is at various stages, another proposal for the procurement of 25 electric buses is under consideration by the competent authority. We will put equal emphasis on both.'
Currently, 80 electric buses are in service across state depots in both northern and southern parts of the state. Each electric bus is fitted with three batteries, each priced at ₹18 lakh, and can run between 100 to 110 kilometres on a full charge. If a battery fails, the vehicle cannot operate.
CNG-powered air-conditioned buses will not face battery-related issues, but the official noted the need to expand the number of
CNG fuelling stations
to support the new fleet.
'We want to strike a balance between both CNG and electric buses,' the official said.
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