Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jul 9: The city has been sanctioned 100 electric buses under the central government’s Prime Minister e-Bus Sewa Scheme, and the process of establishing charging infrastructure is moving forward with MESCOM having invited bids for depot charging points.

The deadline for submission of bids ended on July 8. The charging infrastructure is expected to be completed within three months of the award of the contract.

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MESCOM has floated the tender for setting up charging points for the electric buses. KPTCL has already approved the charging facilities at the depots at Kuntikan and Mudipu-Balepuni.

KSRTC is expected to invite tenders for the civil works at the depots, and the notification process is currently underway. The tender notification for the civil works is likely to be issued shortly.

The Prime Minister e-Bus Sewa Scheme is expected to prescribe strict timelines for the early completion of the civil works. Once these are completed, the Central Government will invite national-level bids for the procurement of the electric buses.

Several reputed companies from across the country are expected to participate in the tender process. Some firms have already visited Mangaluru and inspected the proposed depots at Kuntikan and Balepuni. If all proceeds according to schedule, the electric bus service is expected to commence within six months, sources said.

There is considerable demand for KSRTC bus services within Mangaluru city, and several applications seeking new services have already been received. The buses will be allotted to routes based on priority, KSRTC divisional controller Rajesh Shetty said.

“Mangaluru has been sanctioned 100 electric buses. Bids have been invited for the charging points. Thereafter, tenders are likely to be called for the depot civil works, followed shortly by national-level tenders for the procurement of the buses,” Rajesh Shetty added.