PMPML starts fifth electric bus depot at Pune railway station

PUNE With its focus on increasing the number of electric buses (e-buses) in the city, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) on Tuesday started its 5th e-depot for charging and maintenance of e-buses at Pune station

PUNE With its focus on increasing the number of electric buses (e-buses) in the city, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) on Tuesday started its 5th e-depot for charging and maintenance of e-buses at Pune station. The city already has four e-charging stations at Nigadi, Wagholi, Baner and Bhekrai nagar.

The electric bus depot near Pune railway station. (Shankar Narayan/HT PHOTO)

In the first phase, 25 buses will be charged at this e-depot. Twenty-eight charging points are already operational. E-buses will be provided on the Kondhwa, Hinjewadi, Kharadi and Alandi routes. A 15,000 KV transformer has been installed at this depot. “We have converted all CNC depots into e-depots. We have planned 35 charging points for the buses out of which we have started 28 points as of now. Once all the charging points start, all 90 buses can be charged,” said Chetna Kerure, joint managing director, PMPML.

As of now, Pune has 125 operational e-buses and by October, the city will have 500 e-buses. “We will be selecting 10 more places for charging points which will be used for PMPML as well as public charging points which is in process,” said Kerure.