A new consignment of electric buses has arrived in Solan to promote green mobility in Himachal Pradesh. Olectra Greentech, a Hyderabad-based company, has dispatched six new electric buses to Solan following technical improvements. Trials for these buses are set to commence shortly across various hilly routes within the state.
Significantly, these buses have been sent only after rectifying the technical flaws that were identified during previous trials. The technical committee of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) will now conduct an inspection of these buses during the current trial phase. Should the trial prove successful, the state is slated to receive a supply of 297 new buses.
According to reports, trials for electric buses had previously been conducted on various routes across the state. During those earlier trials, certain technical glitches regarding the buses’ performance on hilly terrain and steep inclines, as well as issues related to power backup, were detected.
The department had compiled a report detailing these deficiencies and submitted it to the company. The company has now resolved all the reported issues and has resubmitted the technically upgraded buses. These buses will not be confined solely to Solan city; rather, they will be tested on other challenging routes throughout the state.
The successful operation of these buses is expected to reduce carbon emissions within the state and provide passengers with a modern, noise-free travel experience. Meanwhile, Surender Rajput, the Regional Manager (RM) for Solan, stated that following the arrival of the buses, the necessary formalities for initiating the trials are currently being completed. The plan is to deploy these buses on regular routes once the trials have concluded successfully. This initiative is poised to bring about a significant transformation in the state’s transportation system.
297 Buses to Join the HRTC Fleet
A total of 297 new electric buses are scheduled to be inducted into the HRTC fleet. The buses that have now arrived in Solan will be tested on the rugged and challenging routes of districts such as Shimla, Kullu, and Chamba. To ensure passenger comfort and safety, these new buses are equipped with modern features such as CCTV cameras, panic buttons, and GPS tracking systems. The Transport Corporation has stated that if the current trial proves successful, the company will be given the green light to proceed with the delivery of the remaining buses.