BEST to buy 6 battery-run AC buses for ₹10 crore

BEST officials said the companies will provide them with a prototype bus for trials before the actual buses are supplied

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) will buy six new battery-operated air-conditioned (AC) buses made in China.

Each bus costs around Rs1.65 crore, much higher as compared to the existing fossil fuel non-AC and AC buses in the BEST fleet. (HT File Photo)

BEST Committee, the policy-making body of the undertaking, awarded the contract for buying the 35-seater buses worth around Rs10 crore on Thursday. In the same meeting, the committee also approved of scrapping 50 AC buses of the JCBL group.

According to BEST, of the six battery-operated buses, four will be of the BYD K 7 model, while the other two will be of the VE Skyline Pro variety. Each bus costs around Rs1.65 crore, much higher as compared to the existing fossil fuel non-AC and AC buses in the BEST fleet. The buses are smaller than the current bulky AC buses.

The buses will be bought through a Rs10 crore grant the BMC has given the BEST to purchase eco-friendly buses. “BYD is a Chinese company and is one of the leading manufacturers of battery-operated buses in the world,” said Sanjay Bhagwat, additional general manager, BEST.

Apart from plying in China, BYD buses also ply in Amsterdam and Nottingham. The buses ply in Indian cities such as Manali, Rajkot, Delhi and Bangalore.

BEST officials said the companies will provide them with a prototype bus for trials before the actual buses are supplied. The buses are expected within three months. “Though the battery-operated buses cost more, they emit zero carbon and are thus more helpful to the city,”said Bhagwat.

The BEST will have to make provisions for charging points at its depots, as these buses have lithium batteries.

Keeping the debacle of the so-called Chinese buses in mind, the BEST committee members cautioned the administration to make sure that the news buses are sturdy and can be easily maintained.

The committee will also request the BMC to exempt these buses from the 6% octroi levied on buses.