The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will induct 921 non-AC electric buses from Tata Motors soon, as it is witnessing a resurgence in daily ridership after implementation of the Shakti scheme, which offers free bus travel for women.
According to BMTC officials, Tata Motors, a commercial vehicle manufacturer, will lease 921 electric buses under the FAME-2 scheme. In August 2022, Tata Motors had won an order of 921 electric buses from BMTC. Under the tender by Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), Tata Motors will supply, operate, and maintain the 12-metre electric buses for a period of 12 years, as per the contract.
A senior BMTC official said that Tata Motors will likely send its first prototype e-bus next week. “As per the contract, Tata Motors would supply, operate and maintain these low-floor 12-metre electric buses for a period of 12 years. All the 921 electric buses will be inducted to the BMTC’s fleet in a phased manner. Already we have planned allocation of these buses to various depots and the work on the charging stations and other infrastructure to run these buses are going on,” a BMTC official told The Hindu.
