MUMBAI: Even as Mumbai and its neighbouring cities grapple with poor Air Quality Index (AQI), four E-buses have hit the roads of Mira Road and Bhayander.
As part of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) launched in 2019 to improve the air quality across cities in the country, the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) placed order for 57 electric buses in July. On Monday four of the five buses began plying on the roads.
The deployment of these 57 electric buses (in phases) is expected to save a gross of 33,704 tonnes of CO2 emission as compared to diesel buses.
The four midi non air-conditioned buses were flagged off in the presence of civic officials and elected representatives.
As of now an estimated 90,000 passengers use the MBMC buses. With the launch of E-buses the civic administration aims to add another 35,000 passengers. The civic buses in the region are run on contractual basis.
The NCAP aims to achieve 20% to 30% reduction in concentrations of PM10(particulate matter of diameter between 10 and 2.5 micrometer) and PM2. 5(particulate matter of diameter 2.5 micrometer or less) by next year.
A budget of Rs 81 crore has been earmarked by the centre for MBMC to procure the 57 e-buses by 2025-26.
