বাংলায় পড়ুন
Commuters are likely to get respite from the scorching heat of summer. Sources at the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) said that ahead of the Bengali New Year which occurs in mid-April, 20 electric operated, air-conditioned buses would arrive from the Karnataka factory.
WBTC intends to ply these environment-friendly buses at different routes of the city and adjoining areas. It was found out that already these non-polluting buses are plying on three routes – Bag Bazaar-Nabanna-Mandirtala, Kudghat-Airport and Joka-New Town. These buses have created a lot of curiosity among passengers. Looking at the growing demand of these buses, the Bag Bazaar-Mandirtala route has been extended till Santragachi.
The new buses which would arrive are about 20 m in length. Each have 32 seats. A senior WBTC official said that there was a good demand for these buses in Kolkata and its outskirts and given the rising mercury, the demand was likely to increase and the new buses will cater to the growing demands of people. Seven of the 20 buses will come in the first week of April. Rest of the 13 will come in mid-April. It was yet to be decided how many of these buses will be plying in which route. Those will be commissioned according to the demand. In the meantime, drivers are being trained to manoeuvre the new buses.
Sources also said that charging points are being made for these buses at nine depots and eight termini. The depots will include Nonapukur, Gariahat, Lake, Thakurpukur, Kasba, Howrah, Belgharia, Salt Lake and New Town. Of these places, charging points at Nonapukur, Kasba, Lake, Thakurpukur and Belgharia are already functional. Termini which will have the facility include Nabanna, Santragachi, Howrah, Raja Bazar, Tollygunge, Karunamoyee, Garia and New Town. Of these termini, charging points at Nabanna, Santragachi and Raja Bazar are already functional.
WBTC officials said that with one full charge, a bus can travel up to 150 km but so far buses have successfully run up to 75 km. Officials also said that although it had been intended to lower pollution level but it was also true that the operational cost of these buses were less than diesel-operated buses. An estimate showed that these buses incurred one-third of the cost of diesel buses. The new buses will be incorporated in the WBTC ‘pathadisha’ app and will be visible to commuters through the smartphone app.
