Panaji
The Governor of Goa Dr Mridula Sinha flagged off three biofuel buses -- two bioethanol and one biogas -- that will be run in Goa on a three month pilot project.
The three buses were flagged off by the Governor after the conclusion of the State level independence day celebrations in the presence of the Managing Director of the Kadamba Transport Corporation Derrick Pereira Neto and other officials.
Later speaking to The Goan, Chairman of the Kadamba Transport Corporation Carlos Almeida informed that the three buses will be operating in Goa as part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Kadamba Transport Corporation and Scania, a Swedish bus and truck manufacturer which will be operating the buses.
"As per the MoU, Scania will be responsible for running the buses including maintenance, refuelling, drivers and servicing. The KTC will offer Scania space at the Porvorim Depot for the buses and their maintenance," Almeida told The Goan.
The buses will be utilised along the Margao-Panaji, and Vasco da Gama-Panaji shuttle service routes while the third bus will be operated along the Canacona-Panaji route.
Carlos said that the pilot project has a duration of three months with a provision to extend it by another three months. "At the end of the trial we will float a tender to run several buses. The ultimate aim is that they will be fuelled by the gas generated from the garbage plant at Saligao. For that they will have to set up a refinery unit so the gas from the plant is made available in a usable form," Almeida said.
The launch of these services makes Goa the second place in India after Nagpur to introduce ethanol powered buses on its roads.
Biofuels are believed to be less polluting and a cleaner fuel than diesel and petrol.
