Mangaluru: Even as the KSRTC is making preparations to operate 100 electric buses on various routes in Dakshina Kannada, private operators are also keen on introducing eco-friendly vehicles to give tough competition to the state-run operator. A private electric bus will be rolled out on Route No 27, originating from Mangaladevi Temple in the city, within a week.Bus owners said that many are keen on introducing electric buses, and they intend to replace diesel vehicles with e-buses. The KSRTC Mangaluru division is preparing road maps to operate 100 electric buses sanctioned under the PM-eBus Sewa scheme.Bus owner Dilraj Alva said that he will launch the new electric bus on Route No 27 on Feb 26. “The manufacturer will deliver the vehicle in a couple of days. I decided to operate the bus in the city, and it is an eco-friendly initiative to promote carbon neutrality,” said Alva, who is also the former president of Dakshina Kannada District Bus Owners’ Association.Initially, the electric bus will be charged at the existing charging stations in the city, he said.Alva, who was active in various cleanliness drives in the city, said that he also has plans to create a group of investors and thereby introduce more electric buses to the city.“I did not calculate the cost effectiveness of operating an electric bus at this point. My priority is to contribute to the environment by reducing carbon emissions. A group, involving five bus operators, was created to set up a company called Charge Mobility Private Limited. In future, the company will be launched to look for various options to introduce more eco-friendly vehicles,” said Alva.
