21 AC Electric Buses To Hit Nashik Roads From September 1; 28 E-Buses Ready For Service

Nashik: Under the Central Government's 'PM e-Bus' scheme, the first batch of 21 air-conditioned electric buses, part of the 50 sanctioned for the Nashik Municipal Corporation, has arrived in the city. Another seven buses are expected to arrive next week, and citizens will be able to travel on these 28 air-conditioned e-buses starting September 1.

The inclusion of these eco-friendly buses in the 'Citylink' fleet has significantly boosted the city's bus service. This development is particularly significant in the context of the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

The Municipal Corporation launched the city bus service in 2021 by establishing the Nashik Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal (Citylink). Currently, the Citylink fleet comprises approximately 250 buses, consisting of 200 CNG and 50 diesel buses. Initially, there was a proposal to purchase 50 electric buses under the Central Government's 'NCAP' scheme. Subsequently, a decision was made to supply 100 e-buses to the Municipal Corporation under the 'PM e-Bus' scheme, with approval granted for the first 50 buses.

'JBM Ecolife Mobility Private Limited' was appointed as the operator for Nashik. However, the deployment of the buses was delayed because the agreement with the company remained pending. Although construction of the e-bus depot at Adgaon was completed three months ago, the service could not commence due to the lack of a signed agreement.

The process was prolonged due to delays on the government's part regarding the draft agreement. Finally, last month, the agreement with the company was signed at the Municipal Corporation headquarters in the presence of Mayor Himgauri Aher-Adke, Deputy Mayor Vilas Shinde, and Standing Committee Chairman Machhindra Sanap. This paved the way for the arrival of the e-buses.

The newly arrived e-buses are orange in colour. With the addition of 50 e-buses to the existing fleet of 250, Citylink's passenger transport capacity is set to increase ahead of the Kumbh Mela. This move will help reduce carbon emissions and air pollution, in addition to saving on diesel costs, thereby steering Nashik's public transport system towards an eco-friendly direction.