Last December, the BMTC had started running electric buses for the first time under the Bengaluru Smart City project. Of the 90 buses received by the corporation, over 80 are enjoying good patronage.
“There has been good patronage for e-buses. Presently, these buses see an occupancy of 70 to 80%. We are paying ₹51 to the operator per km. On the other hand, we are running diesel buses at close to ₹60 per km. We are only providing conductors from our side. The rest they have to manage including employing drivers and maintenance. At this juncture, we cannot make an assessment about loss and profit. These buses are operated for ten years and will benefit the corporation in the long run,” a senior BMTC official said.
