[wheelguy]

Currently, the NMC has a fleet of 432 buses and has no women-only bus. It was a long-pending demand from women commuters to operate special buses for them.

Public transport in the city is set for a major overhaul with the addition of five new electric buses. All the five women-only electric buses will be introduced from the second week of September, transport committee chairman Bunty Kukde said on Saturday.The arrival of five electric buses comes on the backdrop of an announcement made in 2017 regarding the introduction of women-only buses by the state urban ministry. This could make public buses an attractive commuting option for women.

The midi bus procured from Olectra Company in Secunderabad costs Rs1.49 crore each. The civic body had received Rs9.25 crore grant from the state government to ply women-only buses under the Tejaswani Scheme. Kukde said earlier, the civic body had decided to purchase diesel buses, but later decided to purchase electric buses as it will reduce the expenditure substantially and cause no pollution.With remaining Rs 1.80cr, NMC will be purchasing one more air-conditioned electric bus.

For smooth operation of the bus, the NMC has set up a charging station at NMC’s land on old Bhandara Road in Lakadganj area. The charging station can accommodate five buses at a time. Each bus needs three hours for charging and can run for almost 200km.

Source

[V.Narayan]

Right move regardless of whether they use electric or ICE buses. Travelling is a challenge each day for millions of women in our country because of men who cant behave. I wish it were 50 buses and not just 5. Any way - a first step at least.