PUNE: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) is all set to operate electric buses named ‘Shivai’ to cities like Mumbai, Nashik, Kolhapur, Aurangabad and Pune. “The department has already started setting up charging point at these stations,” said a senior ST officer.
A few months ago, MSRTC has issued a tender and awarded the contract to a private party to supply e-buses. The department informed that e-buses will operate within a radius of 250 km and will be fully air-conditioned. MSRTC, which serves the entire State, owns around 20,000 diesel buses.
Recently, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) acquired as many as 150 e-buses and is in the process of acquiring more. As part of the policy to go-green, union and the State government is given preference to electricity operated vehicles while acquiring new buses.
“On Pune-Kolhapur route, Swargate depot will operate six buses while Kolhapur will have another six buses. On Pune-Nashik route, we will operate nine buses while Nashik too will operate the same number. The schedule of these buses will be adjusted with the Shivshahi service as both these are luxury, air-conditioned services,” said Pune Divisional Traffic Controller Yamini Joshi.
