RSRTC Advances E-Bus Procurement with Two Companies Selected
In a significant development for sustainable public transport, the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) has successfully finalized two companies for the procurement of electric buses, marking the end of a prolonged struggle with tender processes. After multiple unsuccessful attempts over the past two years due to poor responses, the corporation has now shortlisted firms to supply a total of 300 e-buses, paving the way for a greener fleet.
Overcoming Past Hurdles in Tender Assignments
Officials revealed that RSRTC first invited tenders in December 2024 and repeated the process several times thereafter, but these efforts were consistently hampered by inadequate participation, preventing finalization. This persistent challenge has now been resolved, with one company set to supply 246 buses and the other providing the remaining 54, ensuring a diversified approach to meeting the corporation's needs.
Financial Approval and Deployment Plans
The next step involves RSRTC writing to the state government to seek financial approval. Once this clearance is obtained, the corporation will issue a letter of intent (LOI) to proceed with the procurement. According to a senior official, the operational cost per kilometer for these e-buses is projected to be Rs 34, highlighting potential efficiency gains over traditional diesel models.
Upon deployment, the new buses are likely to be allocated to routes connecting to the National Capital Region (NCR), with distribution across all state depots to enhance connectivity and reduce emissions in high-traffic areas.
Broader Vision for Electric Vehicle Integration
This tender is part of a two-fold strategy: one component includes infrastructure for charging the buses, while the other focuses solely on the vehicles without charging setups. RSRTC's long-term goal is to procure a total of 900 electric vehicles, aiming to completely replace the existing diesel-based fleet used on these routes.
By the end of this year, the corporation plans to replace all 900 buses currently operating on Delhi-NCR routes with EV buses that comply with guidelines set by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). This initiative underscores a commitment to improving air quality and adopting eco-friendly transportation solutions in line with national environmental standards.
