[sustran] WILL BMTC’S E-BUS DREAM GET PVT BOOST?

[Vinay Baindur]

seems like the pressure to buy costly expensive and experimental tech
continues unabated and that is what BMTC is ready for even if it cannot
afford it  and does not even want it like they had said earlier...
so now a JV / PPP for an experiment ... sound familiar?
That means tickets on commercial basis and not with support from govt?
Basically helping the sales of these manufacturers and not the commuters
who want more normal buses! and not AC buses...

and while CNG is available now where is the move towards that?


http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/others/Will-BMTCs-e-bus-dream-get-pvt-boost/articleshow/51447933.cms





WILL BMTC’S E-BUS DREAM GET
 PVT BOOST?
By Suchith Kidiyoor, Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Mar 18, 2016, 04.00 AM IST
[image: Will BMTC’s e-bus dream get pvt boost?]
According to a BMTC official, as per preliminary talks, private entities
would

invest on 50 to 100 electric buses
*Corp mulls asking private operators to foot bill for buses; wants to run
on a revenue-sharing basis*


Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), which is not in a
position to induct electric buses into its existing fleet citing the high
cost of such buses is planning on an agreement with private entities to
fund its ambitious project. As per its plan, private parties would invest
money to procure the buses and maintain them. BMTC would operate these
buses on city routes and share the revenue with the parties.

However, managing director of BMTC Ekroop Caur maintained that the plan is
still in its conceptual stage. The corporation has already made it clear
that unless the government funds procurement of electric buses, it is not
in a position to buy them as they are a lot more expensive than diesel-run
buses. BMTC, with its fleet of 6,400 diesel buses, is one of the bigger
contributors to the city's air pollution as it operates 75,928 trips
covering a distance of 14 lakh kilometres per day. Pressure has been
mounting on BMTC to go green on its fleet by inducting electric and CNG
(compressed natural gas) buses.

An official of BMTC, who is aware of the development, said, "In the past,
the corporation had allowed the pilot operation of an electric bus
manufactured by a China-based company. Though the corporation wanted to buy
such buses, due to the cost factor, it did not, and the project got
shelved. The company had quoted close to Rs 3 crore for the bus. Induction
of electric bus by spending such a huge amount was not financially viable
for the corporation, which was at is going through financial distress. Now
some private entities have shown interest in the project."

The official said that as per preliminary talks, private entities would
invest on 50 to 100 electric buses.




"If private entities come forward and invest, by using its infrastructure,
BMTC would operate them. However, the private parties would be responsible
for even the maintenance of these buses. BMTC will operate the buses in the
city and share ensuing revenue with the investor. The revenue sharing model
needs to be worked out. Management of the corporation will take a call on
the issue once advanced talks take place with interested parties," the
official said.

This is not the first time the corporation is mulling investment by private
parties. During the BJP government rule, it contemplated entering the share
market, and discussed involving private players in its operations. "BMTC is
serious about inducting electric buses into its existing fleet. We have
already written to the Central government to give us financial aid for
this. Electric buses are the next level of mobility, and technology has
advanced over the years. In addition to seeking funds for electric buses,
we have also asked for hybridisation of buses. The Central government has
said it would provide two electric buses to each city to carry out a pilot
study. We are yet to get a reply from the Central government on the issue.
Though the cost involved in procurement of electric buses is high, the
operational costs are less. In coming days, we will see what best we could
do," Ekroop Caur added.