Going green: NMMT to add 30 electric buses to its fleet

The project will be financed under Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme

After ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises approved the proposal, Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) will purchase 30 electric buses soon.

The proposal to introduce electric buses in Navi Mumbai was submitted by Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), NMMT’s parent body, in Delhi last week. (HT file)

The project will be financed under Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme.

The scheme provides 60% subsidy to buyers of electric vehicles for commercial purposes, such as public transport.

According to NMMT chairman Pradeep Gavas, “Though NMMT is incurring losses; the transport body has been coming up with various schemes to benefit passengers. Hence, the administration is taking efforts to add electric buses to its fleet. We had sent a proposal to the ministry in February.”

He added, “The Centre is planning to start the electric buses in all the big metros. With Navi Mumbai competing with cities such as Mumbai and Pune, transportation system is being upgraded.”

The proposal to introduce electric buses in Navi Mumbai was submitted by Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), NMMT’s parent body, in Delhi last week.

Another NMMT official said the buses will be procured at the earliest.