Maharashtra government’s first e-bus ‘Shiwai’ will be launched tomorrow, first conductor of roadways will flag off

The number of electric vehicles is increasing in the country’s public transport. State governments are also adopting this convenient mode of transport. In the past, we had seen that the Delhi government had given green signal to the service of electric buses on many routes. Now Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) is also going to launch its first electric bus on Pune-Ahmednagar route. On completion of 75 years of its operation, MSRTC is going to launch this bus service from June 1.

It has been told by MSRTC that this e-bus has been named ‘Shiwai’, which will be launched in the presence of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and other VIPs in the premises of MSRTC’s regional office in Pune. Significantly, on June 1, 1948, the first bus service of MSRTC was started on the Pune-Ahmednagar route. Tomorrow i.e. on Wednesday MSRTC will enter Diamond Jubilee year.

MSRTC’s first e-bus ‘Shiwai’ will be flagged off by Laxman Kevat, the conductor of the first bus that ran on the Pune-Ahmednagar route on June 1, 1948, at the event to be held tomorrow. Apart from this, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will also inaugurate a charging station at the regional office premises of the corporation.

With a fleet of over 16,000 buses, MSRTC is one of the largest public transport undertakings in the country. The loss-making corporation was ferrying more than 65 lakh passengers daily to their destinations before the outbreak of the March Covid pandemic.

This electric bus is 12 meters long, which will have a seating capacity of 43 people. Its 6 services will be operated daily. It has been told that the battery capacity of this e-bus is 322 kv. It will run at a speed of 80 kmph. MSRTC is going to add few more e-buses to its fleet. This process will be completed phase wise.

BEST is also taking new steps to increase electric buses for public transport in Mumbai. BEST has finalized the bids of Olectra Green Tech. Under this, Olectra will supply 2100 electric buses in a span of 12 months. EVEY, a subsidiary of Olectra Green Tech, will purchase these 2100 electric buses either directly or through its special purpose vehicle. BEST aims to electrify 50 per cent of the vehicles in its portfolio by the end of 2023.