The rollout of electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme in the KSRTC Mangaluru division has been delayed due to infrastructure constraints. Mescom has requested an additional six months to complete the installation of a charging station at the Kuntikana depot.
Meanwhile, KSRTC's Mangaluru division has sought another six months to one year for the completion of civil works at its depot. Rajesh Shetty, the senior divisional controller of KSRTC Mangaluru division, stated that 50 electric buses have already been sanctioned for the division in the first phase of the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme. However, operations can only begin after the charging station and other related infrastructure are established.
KSRTC has received Rs 8 crore from the central government for setting up charging facilities at Kuntikana and at Balepuni village, where another depot is planned. However, the division is yet to receive Rs 11 crore from the central government for civil works at Kuntikana and Balepuni.
"Out of 100 e-buses sanctioned for Mangaluru division, 50 will be operated from Kuntikana and the remaining from Balepuni. The process of handing over government land to set up an electric bus depot in Balepuni is in the final stage," Shetty said.
"We need to invest Rs 3 crore to set up a charging station through Mescom. Once Mescom completes work for the charging station, we will begin civil works. It will need about six months to one year for completion of civil works," he added.
