This news is good news for manufacturers of electric buses in the country. The Delhi government is working to fast-track the procurement of 500 electric buses for use in the smog-hit capital city.
According to Outlook India, a meeting was held between automobile manufacturers and Kailash Gahlot, the Delhi transport minister yesterday.
It is understood that the discussions and presentation was carried out between the OEM representatives, department officials and the minister. The officials also inspected a Tata Motors electric bus, reaffirming the plan to expedite procurement process for the e-buses for plying in the National Capital Region.
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"The process for procurement of the 500 buses has been expedited. Daily meetings are being held to work out the economics of the purchase and available technology to choose the best available and cost-effective buses," one of the officials said.
The chief minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal had last week announced the decision to purchase 500 e-buses under its ‘short-term plan’ or its one-year plan. According to the plan, the first procurement will see 500 low-floor, air-conditioned e-buses. The purchase will be made by the government using the environment cess fund of about Rs 800 crore.
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