UP government will convert diesel buses into electric, trial will start from Jhansi-Lalitpur route

The Uttar Pradesh government is gearing up for a new program for pollution-free transport. At the direction of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the old diesel buses will be transformed into electric buses. The Transport Department has converted two diesel buses into electric ones in the first phase of the scheme at the Ram Manohar Lohia workshop in Kanpur. Their trial will be conducted on the route from Jhansi to Lalitpur.

Minister of State for Transport Dayashankar Singh said that diesel buses that have completed 10 years or 11 lakh kilometers are mandatory to be removed from the bus fleet. Every year, a large number of these buses are auctioned. Now they will be converted into electric buses instead, which will save the cost of purchasing new buses.

Under this process, 'retrofitment technology' will be used. With this technology, the bus will be converted into an electric vehicle, where its body will be manufactured by the Transport Corporation, and technical facilities like battery systems will be provided by private companies like Kalyani Power Train and Zero 21.

To promote electric vehicles in the state, the Transport Department is working on a plan to include 5,000 electric buses in its fleet. Under this, priority is being given to environment-friendly and less polluting technology. The minister said that recently, 220 electric buses were put into service in big events like Maha Kumbh, including 20 double-decker AC buses.

This scheme is considered a big step towards making Uttar Pradesh a leading state in the field of electric mobility. While this will cut down government expenditure, it will also reduce air pollution drastically.