Bengaluru Goes Green! Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Flags Off 100 New BMTC Electric Buses: Check Features

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated a fleet of 100 Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) electric buses at the Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday. These buses mark the initial installment of 921 buses that BMTC will introduce under the central government's Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) initiative.

The 100 non-air-conditioned electric buses will serve various routes within the city, commencing their operations from eight depots: Shanthinagar, KR Puram, Hennur, Deepanjalinagar, Kannalli, Peenya, Jigani, and Jayanagar.

Sporting a low-floor design in dark blue, these buses align with BMTC's objective to curtail carbon emissions across Bengaluru.

Last year, the state government entered into an agreement with Tata Motors to oversee the operation and maintenance of these buses for a 12-year duration. BMTC will deploy conductors for these buses.

As per the contract terms, BMTC will compensate the private firm managing the buses at Rs 41 per kilometer. The agreement mandates a minimum daily operation of 200 kilometers per bus and an annual mileage of 70,000 kilometers.

Key Features of the Electric Buses:

• Zero-emission and environmentally-friendly.
• Length of 12 meters, non-air-conditioned electric buses with a floor height of 400 mm.
• Assured operational range of 200 kilometers on a single charge.

These buses, accommodating 35 passengers, are equipped with three cameras to assist drivers and four LED destination boards coupled with a voice announcement system for passenger convenience.

For enhanced safety, the buses feature panic buttons, a Fire Detection and Alarm System (FDAS), and provisions prioritizing women's safety.

Beyond the 921 buses under the FAME-II scheme, BMTC aims to introduce an additional 380 electric buses, bolstering its fleet of eco-friendly vehicles.