As Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot along with Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday flagged off 320 new electric buses, the national capital registered a fresh record. The capital now tops the Indian cities with the most number of electric buses at 1,970.
Delhi has the second-largest fleet of electric buses in the world. With 2,267 electric buses, Santiago, Chile, has the largest fleet, said officials. By 2025, officials added, the national capital aims to have a total of 10,480 buses with 80% (8,280 buses) electric fleet, cutting down 467,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. At present, 25% of the buses in Delhi’s fleet are electric.
“The induction of these new e-buses marks a significant step towards our commitment to creating a cleaner and greener Delhi. These buses are not only environment-friendly but also equipped with the latest safety and convenience features for our passengers. We are proud to have the highest number of electric buses in any Indian city and are dedicated to further expanding this fleet,” said Gahlot after inaugurating the buses from Baansera in Sarai Kale Khan.
With the latest addition, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) now operates 4,536 buses, including 2,966 CNG buses and 1,570 electric buses. The Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS), on the other hand, operates 3,147 buses, which include 2,747 CNG and 400 electric buses.
Delhi has been operating 1,650 electric buses since January 2022, which have collectively traveled over 112 million km, cutting down over 91,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, as per officials.
The e-buses are equipped with high-tech facilities — GPS, CCTV, panic buttons, and hooters, all connected to a two-way centralised command and control center. The zero-smoke, and zero-noise air-conditioned low-floor electric buses are also designed keeping in view the differently-abled passengers.
Of the 320 electric buses inducted on Tuesday, 114 will be operated from the Sukhdev Vihar Depot, 150 from the Kalkaji Depot, and 120 from the Naraina Depot, officials added.
Further, officials said that nearly 60 bus depots are being electrified to accommodate over 8,000 electric buses of the 10,480 buses planned for Delhi by 2025. Currently, 18 depots are fully electrified and operational. The two depots for the newly flagged-off buses are Kalkaji and Naraina. “The Delhi government is investing over Rs 1,500 crore in depot electrification, planning well ahead for 2025,” said officials.
[ad_2]
Source link
