GUWAHATI: The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) is set to expand its fleet with an additional 100 electric buses through the Pradhan Mantri E-bus Sewa scheme. The buses will be introduced in phases starting this year.
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To enhance operational efficiency, the department also plans to install another charging station on its Roopnagar campus.
Speaking to GPlus, Chinmoy Prakash Phookan, the Managing Director of ASTC, stated, “The stations will have 12 chargers each equipped with double nozzles, with a capacity to charge at least 24 buses with an overall capacity of 240 kW.”
“The grants and facilitations are in the works, and we will go ahead with the project when we get a green signal from the government,” Phookan added.
The Roopnagar campus currently has 16 chargers (240 kW) that can power up to 32 buses simultaneously, allowing the buses to run up to 220 km. Additionally, the ISBT campus in Lokhra has 10 chargers that can charge 20 buses simultaneously, supporting low-range buses that can run 160 km.
Presently, over 200 electric buses are operating in Guwahati. The Assam government aims to increase the number of electric buses to address environmental pollution and improve transport facilitation.
