Suvendu flags off 50 new AC buses, announces plans to roll out 1000 more

West Bengal Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari flagged off 50 new AC buses at Kolkata’s Kasba on Tuesday, and shared plans to roll out around 1000 environment friendly vehicles in the state in the next one year.

“To keep the city and the state and the city of Kolkata safe, clean and environment friendly, procurement of more and more electric and CNG vehicles are being prioritized. During a recent meeting of the state Urban Development and Municipal affairs Department and Union minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, discussions have been held about rolling out additional electric buses on the ratio of 60:40 in which 40 percent is to be borne by the state government,” Adhikari said.

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“Today we rolled out 50 environment friendly buses including 43 CNG and seven electric run. The transport minister has submitted a proposal for 400 buses needed urgently and it is likely to be sanctioned. Over the next one year, we will introduce 1000 additional buses which will be environment friendly,” he added.

Speaking about developing waterways in the state, “Apart from this, the jetties under the Transport Department would be revamped. As a part of Destination Sundarbans, luxurious boats would be introduced.”

The newly launched 50 buses are to be operated on a total of 24 routes, including both new and old ones. Few routes that were operational during Adhikari’s tenure as the state’s Transport Minister were closed subsequently.

Sources in the Bengal Transport Department mentioned that the 50 eco-friendly buses are to be operated on routes including AC 37, Barasat to Garia, AC 47, Santragachi to Airport, AC 9, New Town to Esplanade, AC 9B, New Town to Behala, AC 12, New Town to Howrah, EB 14, Eco Park/New Town to Esplanade, among other.