Bengaluru’s traffic is known to be some of the most excruciating painful experiences in India – meme-ified beyond control! However, that might soon change as the city is planning to roll out a new fleet of air-conditioned (AC) electronic buses (E-buses). The BMTC Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is set to make public transport more efficient and sustainable with the launch of these AC E-buses, including routes that will operate to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).
BMTC To Introduce New AC E-Buses
Air-conditioned electronic buses aren’t new, however, many Indian cities are beginning to integrate them into their public transport systems. Now, Bengaluru will introduce a new fleet of AC E-buses. BMTC also has plans to lease these buses from Ashok Leyland’s subsidiary, OHM Global Mobility. These new buses in Bengaluru’s public transport system will enter service from June 15, 2025.
Currently, there are 114 AC E-buses that run from Banashankari to Majestic, Silk Board, and from Hoskote to Attibele. GT Prabhakar Reddy, Chief Traffic Manager of Operations at BMTC, confirmed that BMTC has plans to deploy 83 AC E-buses along the Vayu Vajra route but in phases. He also stated that in the initial phase, only 8 to 10 buses will be operational. Eventually, this number will increase as supportive infrastructure develops in Bengaluru.
New Electric Buses To Replace Volvo Buses
The new electric buses will soon replace Volvo buses that operate on traditional fuel sources. These buses will run from Majestic and Banashankari to the airport. This plan was in talks for a long time, however, it was slowed down due to infrastructure delays, including problems revolving around charging ports and route layouts.
Now, the charging station is around only a kilometer-away from the KIA Terminal 2 and has 6 chargers. And speaking of charging, it takes about 45 minutes for the buses to fully charge. BMTC will charge these buses at short intervals throughout the day, ensuring that the fleet is in service round the clock.
With the new buses entering service, the old fleet of Volvo buses will bid adieu to Bengaluru’s streets. Currently, the corporation operates 434 Volvo buses, including 150 solely on the airport route. Not just that, but the manufacturers will also hire and train new drivers to better operate the new AC E-buses.
Summing Up
With electronic buses becoming more and more common on Indian streets, it will be interesting to see Bengaluru add a brand-new fleet on its streets. These are way more efficient, sustainable, and reliable than the traditional diesel or CNG-run buses. What do you think of this move?
