In a welcoming news for Mumbaikars, the city will get its first electric AC double-decker in the first week of August. Coincidently, the inaugural ceremony of the buses will correspond with the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Foundation Day on August 7.
This is a part of BEST's initiative to preserve the city's iconic double deckers, which have dropped by 60 per cent in the last two years. In 2019, the number of double decker buses were 120, which has come down to 48 in 2021, since most buses have reached the end of their lifespans.
With 900 e-double decker contracts already approved recently, the first lot of 225 twin-deck buses is expected by year-end.
Now, with the daily ridership of over 31 lakhs and set to increase by around 1-2 lakhs, the BEST will require more buses to meet the increasing demand from commuters. The double-deckers will have a capacity of 78-90 passengers per bus.
The electric double-deckers will either run on electricity or hydrogen fuel cells, depending on which is more competent, official added.
A target of 15 per cent public transport based on electric vehicles by 2025 has been set by the government, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief Iqbal Singh Chahal informed.
However, the corporation is keen on making 50 per cent of public transport based on electric vehicles by 2023.
Additionally, more charging stations will be set up there in the next 3 to 4 months through a public private partnership. This will also enable the general public to charge their vehicles.
As per reports, at present, there are 48 non-AC double-deckers ferrying passengers on 16 routes across Mumbai.
For those unversed, last year in October, Maharashtra Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray had said that every bus to be inducted into the BEST fleet will be an electric bus, and that the entire fleet will be converted to electric buses by 2028.
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