The Future of Volvo Buses in Bangalore: Transition to Electric and Modernization Efforts
BENGALURU: In a significant move towards sustainable transportation, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has announced the phasing out of Volvo air-conditioned buses. This decision, driven by heavy operational losses, marks a challenging yet crucial shift as the city transitions towards a greener future.
Current Situation and BMTC's Decision
The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has decided to replace its 300 air-conditioned Volvo electric buses with the newly acquired electric buses over the next few months. This phase-out is part of a broader strategy to reduce operational costs, achieve better sustainability, and address the financial constraints faced by the corporation. While 300 A/C electric low-floor buses (12-metre, 37-seater) will be deployed on routes like the airport outer ring road, Electronics City, and Whitefield, the fate of the remaining 825 Volvo buses remains uncertain.
Citizen Activism and Financial Challenges
This decision has garnered significant attention and opposition from citizen activists and passenger groups. They argue that the current fleet should not be raided until new buses are added to the BMTC fleet. According to Vinay Sreenivasa of Bengaluru Bus Prayaan Ikara Vedika, a community forum for bus commuters, rethinking the idea of Volvo AC buses is welcome, but it alone does not solve BMTC's problems. The corporation is exploring lease options for electric buses and analyzing loss-making routes to decide their future use. The average cost of a Volvo bus is around Rs 1 crore, rendering the scrap market yield insufficient.
Operational Cost Analysis
BMTC officials revealed that the operational and maintenance cost for a Volvo diesel bus is significantly higher compared to an electric bus. They stated that the cost of operating an electric A/C bus, which includes power, conductor's salary, and GST, is around Rs 60 to Rs 63 per km, compared to Rs 75 to Rs 80 per km for Volvo A/C diesel buses. This financial incentive coupled with technical issues and the high frequency of breakdowns makes Volvo buses less economically viable. Moreover, BMTC is planning to dispatch around 357 new non-AC diesel buses by January 2020 and to scrap a majority (1089) of non-AC buses this year.
Planning for a Greener Future
The phased transition towards electric buses is a significant step towards reducing the city's carbon footprint. The first electric buses may hit the roads by April 2020, and six companies, including Olestra Greentech Ltd, Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors, Edison Motors, JBM Group, and AMS Electric Mobility Limited, have shown interest in supplying these vehicles. The corporation is formulating a new scrapping policy for Volvo buses, currently averaging 8 years and 5.4 lakh km, and targeting an average age of 10 years and 10 lakh km.
Conclusion
The decision to phase out Volvo buses in Bangalore is a complex yet necessary step towards sustainable transportation. Transitioning to electric buses, coupled with a renewed focus on cost-effectiveness and customer satisfaction, aims to revitalise the city's public transportation system. As the city moves towards a more sustainable future, it is crucial for the BMTC to balance financial constraints, technological advancements, and the commuting needs of Bangalore's residents.
Related Topics
Keywords: Volvo buses, electric buses, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC)
Additional Resources
For further reading and updates on the status of electric buses in Bangalore, visit the official website of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).