GUWAHATI: The green buses or the electric buses in Guwahati are saviours for the commuters especially during the summer season, but according to many daily travelers, the buses are fewer during the evenings. There are multiple reasons for the buses to be fewer in the evening but the mainly because the bus staff meets the target or the battery gets exhausted.
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Assam government in January this year flagged off 200 electric buses for Guwahati. The initiative was termed as one of the biggest push towards a pollution-free environment. Well, the initiative was appreciated by residents of the city but during the evening the commuters get irked when the buses are few.
A resident of Maligaon who works in Khanapara talking to GPlus said, “Everyday in the morning hours I get green bus till Khanapara, but in the evening just at around 7:30 PM green buses from Khanapara ply only till Paltan Bazar,” adding that at Paltan Bazar he has to take a different city bus to reach Maligaon.
Similarly, a resident of Basistha who works in Maligaon talking to GPlus said, “In the morning hours I get green bus to travel to Maligaon but in the evenings after 7.30 the buses ply only till Bhangagarh,” adding that at times it is difficult to get green buses even till Bhangagarh. He said that only during Ambubachi there was availability of buses till even 9:30 PM.
A source in the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) talking to GPlus on condition of anonymity said, “In the evenings there are several reasons because of which the green buses are fewer on city roads,” adding that there are 200 green buses which are usually parked at Rupnagar ASTC complex which is also the garage. He explained that for 200 buses there are 200 drivers and 200 conductors who are salaried. “Many times all some of the drivers are on leave so 100% gren buses are not plying because of less staff,” said the source adding that also every bus have a target of earning atleast Rs. 6500 everyday. When the target is met, many drivers opt to return to the garage.
He also said that in Rupnagar there is a charging station for the e-buses where 20 buses can recharge the battery at a time. “To fully recharge the battery a bus has to be charged for one hour,” said the source adding that a full recharged battery of the bus can ply a distance of around 150 kilometers.
“ A bus plying in the route from Khanapara to Jalukbari can travel in the route for four trips,” said the source adding that thereafter the battery gets exhausted and needs to be recharged.
He said therefore buses plying from Khanapara towards Jalukbari on the ;last trip ply only till Paltan Bazar and through Arya Nagar reach Rupnagar garage.
Similarly, buses plying from Jalukbari towards Khanapara or Basidtha ply till Bhangagarh and reach Rupnagar garage.
Even after reaching the garage the buses have to wait in the queue to recharge the battery.
He explained that these are the main reasons for fewer buses during the evenings.
He stressed that to solve the issue more charging stations for the buses have to be installed in various places.
