With e-buses, BMTC forgets CNG project

BENGALURU: With the BMTC launching electric buses, the project to introduce CNG buses is as good as scrapped. Following an assurance from the BMTC, the Gas Authority of India Ltd, the public sector unit that supplies compressed natural gas (CNG), had set up three stations at Peenya, Sumanahalli and Hennur, but none of them is functional as there is no demand from the transport corporation.

“We are looking at electric buses as they are more eco-friendly and the maintenance cost too is low. CNG buses are expensive. As of now, we don’t have any plans of procuring CNG buses,” said BMTC Managing Director V. Ponnuraj. 

BMTC Chairman Nagaraj Yadav said that the state wants to tap new technologies. “If the Union government believes in CNG buses, it must sponsor the project. BS-IV and BS-VI vehicles are better than CNG. BMTC is not a travel agency, but is running an essential service,” he said. 

Unlike his predecessors, he wanted to test electric buses before ordering them in large numbers. Citing an example of former BJP minister R. Ashok, he said the previous BJP government bought a large number of Marcopolo buses, but they did not give mileage and had to be sent to junkyard.

“Delhi has CNG vehicles, but the level of pollution is high. We will take electric buses on lease with rates fixed per kilometre, as new technologies have to be tested. If 150 electric buses that we are planning prove to be viable, we will buy more,” he said. 

Environment experts were sceptical about 150 electric buses having any impact on pollution, but they agreed that it is a good start. 

“CNG buses cost Rs 6-7 lakh more than diesel buses, but are less expensive than electric buses. If BMTC wants to try electric buses, they should have taken at least 1,000 buses. But time will prove whether electric buses are viable or not,” said Mr Mahesh Kashyap, a consultant with the Centre for Sustainable Development.