Kejriwal, LG flag off fleet of 500 ebuses; on track to meet 2025 target: CM
Vehicles equipped with CCTV cameras, panic button and GPS unit for real-time tracking of buses; Kejriwal says his govt. intends to induct 8,000 such buses; Saxena gives credit to Central scheme
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and LieutenantGovernor V.K. Saxena on Thursday flagged off 500 electric buses, taking their number in the city’s bus fleet to 1,300.
The Delhi government intends to induct around 8,000 electric buses by 2025, which will constitute 80% of city’s 10,000strong bus fleet by then, Mr. Kejriwal said.
He said the move has been propelled by the need for an environmentfriendly travel option amid rising air pollution.
The LG in a post on ◣ (formerly Twitter) said green buses are being provided by the Centre under the FAMEII Scheme.
“Of the total allocation of 1,500 buses under this scheme for Delhi, 921 are being provided at a subsidy of ₹416.82 crore by the Central government. For the remaining 579 buses, the GNCTD is bearing the subsidy of ₹262.04 cr,” he said.
‘To help curb pollution’
Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot told reporters that adding electric buses to the fleet is a way forward in the battle against pollution as these help check the emission of greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.
“According to various reports, a CNG bus emits 800 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre. One electric bus saves that much amount of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere,” Mr. Gahlot added. He also said orders for the purchase of 6,000 ebuses have already been placed.
Women safety
On the measures for women’s safety, the Minister said these lowfloor buses have been equipped with at least three CCTV cameras each.
“Every bus has a panic button on every two seats so that any passenger feeling uncomfortable can press it. This button has two functions, one is relaying a CCTV camera at our command centre, so that officers sitting at the centre can see what’s happening in that bus,” he added. These buses provide twoway communication with the control room and each bus has a GPS unit for realtime tracking, he added.