PANAJI
A fleet of at least 20 electric vehicles (EV) buses that were left unused for over a year and an additional 12 nearing the same fate, are part of a total of 48 EV buses introduced under the Smart City mission to service Panaji’s core and periphery areas.
The Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) received all 48 buses through the Smart City project and funds allocated for the 60th Liberation Day celebrations, as per the reply tabled by Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on the floor of the House.
Details show that 10 EV buses were procured on May 6, 2023, another 10 on May 15, 2023 and 12 more EV buses were purchased on August 3, 2023. Six buses were purchased on November 29, 2023, with the final batch of 10 purchased on January 3 and January 11, 2024.
Replying to a starred question by MLA Viresh Borkar, the minister stated that KTCL pays the operator per kilometer for these buses -- Rs 40.95 for 7-meter buses, Rs 45.50 for 9-meter buses and Rs 47.95 for 12-meter buses.
After delays caused by incomplete Smart City projects, the buses “ which were to begin operations last year - were finally put into use this month.
Godinho announced that out of the remaining 99 buses under the FAME India Scheme Phase II, 11 EV buses have been delivered. The operator expects to complete the delivery of the pending 88 EV buses by January 2025.
“KTCL has replaced 110 diesel buses with electric buses to reduce the carbon footprint in Goa. These electric AC buses are now operating in villages like Dhavem, Torxem, Mollem, Neturlim, Madkai, Loutolim, Calangute, Badem, Volvoi and Akhada,” Godinho added in reply to another question on the improvement of public transportation infrastructure and connectivity across rural and urban areas.
Two charging stations have been set up at Campal and Margao while an opportunity charger is available at the Panaji bus stand, all equipped with separate electrical meters for billing. About the costs, the minister stated that the amount spent on electricity through EV charging was Rs 222.55 lakhs for fiscal year (FY) 2022-23, Rs 306.03 lakhs (unaudited) for FY 2023-24 and Rs 53.61 lakhs (unaudited, up to May 2024) for FY 2024-25.
