VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) has delivered 50 units of its 24-seater Eicher CNG AC buses to Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal (PMPML).

The buses were flagged off by former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil in Mahatma Phule Mandai, Pune. The buses will operate in central Pune namely, Deccan to Pulgate, Swargate to Pune Station and Swargate to Shivajinagar.

Eicher says its BS VI-compliant buses are powered by E483 CNG engines that develop 115hp at 2600 rpm and peak torque of 360 Nm at 1600-2000 rpm. All buses are equipped with the Eicher Live telematics solution connected in real-time with the Eicher Uptime Centre which provides remote bus monitoring and predictive diagnosis to reduce abrupt breakdowns.

The company says the compact size and turning radius of this 24-seater AC bus help navigate congested and narrow roads with ease.

B. Srinivas, SVP – Bus Business and Product Strategy, VECV said, “Eicher CNG buses are environmentally friendly and with increase in cost of diesel, they significantly reduce operating costs for PMPML."

Hemant Rasne, Committee Chairman of Pune Municipal Corporation Standing said, “These air-conditioned buses with a seating capacity of 24 passengers, will help reduce traffic congestion on narrow roads. The CNG operated buses will be available every five minutes on main roads and every 15 minutes on internal roads. Affordable, fast, comfortable, time-saving and safe travel are the hallmarks of the ‘Punyadasham’ scheme. It will help reduce traffic jams, parking problems, pollution and health complaints. It can save a lot of fuel, time, and money for the passengers. The plan has the potential to change the face of the city’s public transport system. Till date, due to the lack of an efficient public transport system, people used their own two- or four-wheelers but through this scheme people will get the option to switch from private vehicles to public transport.”

Akash Passey, president – VECV Bus Division said: “VECV is delighted to offer modern, passenger friendly and environmentally sustainable buses in Pune. Within VECV we now have the capability to offer a full range of globally leading bus-based transport solutions under the Eicher and Volvo brands for city and intercity applications. We look forward to continue to partner with forward looking civic authorities like PMPML as they seek to reduce pollution and congestion by attracting passengers to modern public transport.”