From next week New Town residents should be able to move about in electric buses. Hidco and Coal India have been working jointly for about four years on this project and on May 1, the wheels should roll.
“This project is the result of a CSR (corporate social responsibility) activity by Coal India. Since the burning of coal creates pollution, they wanted a project that would reduce their carbon footprint,” says
Debashis Sen, chairman cum managing director of Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco).
“Hidco received Rs 10 crore from Coal India out of which 60 per cent has been used so far. We are starting with three buses and based on response, could procure more,” said Sen, adding that these should be the first commercially used air-conditioned electric buses in India.
“The buses are doing trial runs now, without passengers, and we hope to start the service from May 1,” said Sen, who himself commutes on a Mahindra e2o electric car.
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Top up charge at tiffin time
The 32-seater buses look smart and swanky. The body is a combination of green, blue and white with the words “electric bus” on the side windows.
The three buses will stay at the charging station-cum-workshop behind Pride Hotel, where they will take six hours to charge up.
“The Major Arterial Road enjoys ample connectivity so these new buses will concentrate on the interiors,” said Sen. The buses will stop at designated e-bus stops and nowhere else.
They will ply from 8am to noon and again from 4pm to 8pm. “The arrival time of the buses will be mentioned at the bus stops so passengers know how long they have to wait,” said Sen.
So the first bus will head out of the station behind Pride Hotel and head to stops at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Government College behind Home Town, Reliance Fresh and New Town bus stand. It will then cross the MAR and head to Balaka Abasan, Jal Vayu Towers and Uniworld City. From there it will take a turn and head to Narkel Bagan (Rabi Tirtha junction), Swapno Bhor senior citizen’s park and return to the Pride Hotel stop.
The emergency button for passengers to stop the bus
The second bus will make the same halts but the route will be in the opposite direction. The third bus will ply around the Mangaldeep Island, Akankha complex, Owl Junction and Eco Urban Village.
“In case the buses need a quick charge during the day, they can head to our fast charging points at the Shaporji Pallonji terminus and near Eco Urban Village during the break from noon to 4pm,” said Sen.
The buses charge like mobile phones. A “charger gun” needs to be inserted into a socket on the side of the bus and it soaks up energy.
“A display board on the dashboard shows how much charge the battery has left,” showed Palash Pal, an electric bus driver, pointing at a screen that said 85 per cent charge was left.
Pal used to be a Hidco car driver but was trained for the buses. “This system is easier to drive. There is no clutch and the gear system is simpler too.” Instead of first or second, the gears say D1 for drive, D2 for inclined surfaces, R for reverse and N for neutral. “I’m excited about driving this electric bus,” Pal said.
The body of the buses has been built by automobile maker Eicher and the technology has been provided by Pune-based company KPIT that will look after their maintenance for five years.
The buses have been tested for safety and received clearance from Pune’s Automobile Research Association of India. They have a top speed of 80kph but will not exceed 50kph in New Town.
Bus without conductor
The Telegraph Salt Lake went on a trial ride on the electric bus and found it luxurious. The interiors are swanky, the air-conditioning is effective and the ride noise-less.
The buses are also conductor-less. Once the door opens, passengers will hop on board but will be stopped from heading to the seats by a locked turnstile.
Passenger are to buy tickets from the driver there and then, after which the turnstile will allow him to walk through. The fare will be Rs 10 across destinations and a printed ticket will be issued from a portable cash register.
“No standing will be allowed on board. The bus is a 32-seater and due to load restrictions we shall take in no more,” says Sen.
There are three CCTVs cameras installed — one that keeps an eye on passengers, the second aimed at the entry gate of the bus and third is outside on the rear. The driver can access live footage of all the three on a screen next to him.
The name of the upcoming bus stop will be displayed on an electronic board inside but there are also emergency stop buttons. These are fixed on the poles inside the bus and should a passenger press one, it would beep and alert the driver. The driver also has a mic next to him, should he need to make announcements.
Entry will be through the front gate and exit through the middle gate. Both doors will open and close with the press of the driver’s button. The huge windows are emergency exits and there are brightly-coloured hammers installed next to them in case one needs to break open the windows. Each bus has two fire extinguishers and first-aid box too.
They are also thinking of doing up the interiors with themes to celebrate New Town as well as the novelty of the electric bus.
Residents are excited about the newbie. “New Town always introduces innovative things and this electric bus sounds great,” said P. Banerjee, who lives behind Swapno Bhor and teaches at University of Engineering and Management. “The best part is that it will be pollution-free.”
CHOOSE YOUR RIDE
ELECTRIC BUS ROUTES
Route 1: Behind Pride Hotel, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Government College behind Home Town, Reliance Fresh, New Town bus stand, Balaka Abasan, Jal Vayu Towers, Uniworld City, Rabi Tirtha, Swapno Bhor and back to Pride Hotel.
Route 2: Same stops as above but in the opposite direction
Route 3: Mangaldeep Island, Akankha complex, Owl Junction, Eco Urban Village
Fare: Rs 10 across destinations
