GUWAHATI: Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) has decided to distribute all of its buses to other district divisions before introducing compressed natural gas (CNG) buses in the city by the end of the following year in an effort to eliminate diesel-engine city buses in Guwahati city and reduce air pollution.
In August of last year, the state cabinet resolved to buy 200 electric buses and 100 CNG buses for Guwahati. Parimal Suklabaidya, state minister of transportation, said to the media: "Our initial goal is to build CNG gas stations, and by the following year, Assam will be able to use CNG vehicles.
It may take some time for private players who own gas stations to express interest in introducing CNG stations. But given that the work is in progress, we have hope."
Mission Ranjan Das, the ASTC chairman, said to the media, "We have placed an order for 100 electric buses with 31 seats worth Rs 142 crore, and bidding has been issued for the purchase of an additional 100 buses. These buses will be provided by Olectra Greentech Limited. 13 electric buses have already started running in the city under the corporation's management."
"Guwahati Smart City has authorised roughly Rs 29 crore to purchase 100 CNG buses with a capacity of 31 passengers. Tata Motors has been contacted regarding a purchase, and as a result, 68 buses have already been delivered to the city and the remaining 32 will do so shortly " included Das.
The distribution of the ASTC buses with diesel engines to other districts, according to the chairman, was decided upon to improve traffic in Guwahati.
Along with distributing the diesel-powered buses to other divisions, the chairman announced that 200 more diesel-powered buses that typically travel on national highways would be leased out soon.
Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam, had earlier declared that 100 CNG buses and 100 electric buses would take the place of diesel-powered municipal buses.
He also disclosed that, within a year of taking office, his administration wants to replace all of the city's city buses with CNG and electric vehicles.
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