Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar-Puri Transport Services Limited has submitted a proposal to the Centre to achieve considerable targets in using electricity-driven vehicles as public transport alternatives and ensure greener environment for the city.

The proposal estimated at Rs 219.75 crore was submitted to the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises, in which the city proposed to include electric buses, four-wheelers, three-wheelers and two-wheelers to use the system through various charging points, which would be in place, in phases.

The plan is to lessen the environmental burden in the city. "Through strategic investments in public transit infrastructure and last mile connectivity modes, the city is aiming to induce a shift by 20 per cent travel to public transport by 2021," said a transport body official.

According to the proposal, 32km of priority transit corridors require 92 new electric buses to serve the purpose of 1.92 lakh passengers on a daily basis. For first-last mile connectivity within its area-based development of smart city, the city proposed deployment of 500 e-rickshaws, related infrastructure and charging stations by 2021.

Sources said these two project proposals would act as a catalyst to help Bhubaneswar achieve its target of 30 per cent of vehicle travel in the city through electric vehicles by 2030. The city administration had decided to come up with an e-vehicle policy in July, following which a stakeholders meet was held in September.

The proposal was submitted with inputs from various experts. "The primary problem is to create a system for implementation of the e-vehicle policy. There is a need to create infrastructure for the electronic vehicles. After the proposal get Centre's nod, officials will put in the job," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

The e-mobility plan further details the way to achieve a boost for non-motorised transport environment in form of projects such as the Bhubaneswar Cycle Highway by creating cycle paths in the city, dedicated routes, charging points and aggregation service for electric rickshaws and implementing the bicycle-sharing system.

Reports revealed that between 2004 and 2014, the number of vehicles in the city has increased almost three-fold. Along with rapid increase in bikes and cars, the city has witnessed an increase in the number of auto-rickshaws at a rate of 13 per cent per annum.

On the other hand, city buses merely carry 6 per cent of the total trips, and there is a lack of any other robust public transport system in the city.