The Bengaluru Metro Transport Corporation (BMTC) is preparing to expand its fleet with new air-conditioned electric buses servicing essential routes within the city, as per a report from The Hindu. Bengaluru aims to deploy 320 electric AC buses starting from March 2025.
Notably, OHM Global Mobility has received the contract for this project. The goal is to replace the existing Volvo buses on the Vajra and Vayu Vajra airport routes with electric AC buses.
BMTC officials have stated that OHM Global Mobility will manage the operation of these electric AC buses. Furthermore, it will oversee both driver deployment and bus charging operations.
However, BMTC will continue to employ the conductors. Also, the transport corporation will cover operational costs at a rate of ₹65 per km. In addition, BMTC is considering reintroducing double-decker buses, but this time as electric models.
The plan is for these electric AC buses to operate from Subhash Nagar, Katriguppa, Whitefield, and HSR Layout.
The expected timeline for the arrival of the prototype buses is within three months. Moreover, March 2025 is the target for completing the delivery of around 320 electric AC buses.
BMTC’s adoption of electric buses signifies a significant leap towards sustainable mobility.
The latest electric AC bus fleet has some advanced specs, including:
- Low-floor Design: Ensuring passenger boarding and alighting is convenient and hassle-free.
- Air Conditioning: Offering a pleasant travel experience regardless of the weather conditions.
- Comfortable Commuting: Providing spacious seating capacity to cater to the needs of urban commuters.
- Disabled-Friendly: Providing retractable ramps to assist passengers with disabilities.
- Long Stretch: With a focus on operational efficiency, each e-bus would cover at least 250km per day.
As reported by The Hindu, officials have defined strict operational benchmarks, with each bus expected to cover 87,500 km annually, contributing to sustainable urban mobility.
Earlier, the Karnataka government announced the addition of 1,400 electric buses to BMTC’s fleet this year. At present, the BMTC has 390 electric buses in operation on the streets of Bengaluru.
