CM launches 25 hybrid AC buses: Everything you need to know about the buses, its routes & fares
The buses were inaugurated by CM Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Anant Geete
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday inaugurated 25 hybrid electric AC buses that will connect areas around Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) on shorter routes and extend all the way till Thane, Navi Mumbai and Borivali on longer routes.
The CM, along with Union Minister Anant Geete, launched the buses at an event at Sahyadri Guest House in Malabar Hill earlier today. The buses will hit the roads today and start plying on the shorter routes.
“As a part of our hard work and continuous efforts to run all the buses on electric mobility mode, we have finalised a charging policy which will make that possible. We will also assist BEST to bring more such environment-friendly buses in Mumbai,” Fadnavis said.
The buses were procured by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and will be operated by Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST).
They were approved by the Union Government under the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020.
Earlier this month, an MMRDA official had stated that the buses had been registered and certified by the regional transport office, and were going to start plying from mid-March.
The hybrid AC buses will start plying on the roads from today
Here’s everything you need to know about the hybrid AC buses:
Bus routes:
The buses will operate on the following short routes:
* Bandra Terminus-Diamond market
* Kurla station-ACBL
* Bandra bus station-CA Institute
* Sion station-Kalanagar-BKC
* Sion station-LBS road-BKC
As for longer routes, it will connect BKC with Thane, Mulund, Kharghar, and Borivli. The buses will ferry passengers from these areas in the morning and travel on the same route later in the night.
Additional routes may be introduced later.
Bus fares:
Overall, the fares for the hybrid buses will range between Rs 15 and Rs 105 depending on the distance covered. The fares for some of the popular routes are;
Short route fares:
Bandra-BKC: Rs 15
Kurla-BKC: Rs 25
Long route fares:
Borivali-BKC: Rs 105
Thane-BKC: Rs 90
Mulund-BKC: Rs 60
The hybrid buses are more economic, environment friendly and equipped with a host of modern amenities
About the buses:
The 32-seater Tata Starbus hybrid-electric AC buses have been procured at a cost of almost Rs 1.7 crore each. Some of the highlights of the buses are;
* The buses cut down carbon emissions by up to 40 percent.
* Run on diesel and electric power, thereby improving fuel savings by 25-30 percent.
* Fitted with lithium-ion phosphate batteries, which recharge while the engine is running and under braking.
* Equipped with modern amenities like CCTV cameras, charging points, Wi-Fi hotspots among others.
* Offer better visibility, wider corridors, lower doors and ramps, headrests and more legroom than conventional buses.
* Can seat 31 excluding the driver and allow 28 standees.
