Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation pushes for a green city

An electric bus on test for NMMT

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) is set to boost electric vehicles in city limits. Starting from the city transport, NMMC has resolved to do away with all diesel-run vehicles and get more electric buses in its fleet. Recently, the corporation introduced 180 new AC electric buses. It has also proposed to purchase electric vehicles for its officials. The corporation has also located 20 spots to set up charging points for vehicles for citizens.

The Central and state governments are pushing electric vehicles to reduce pollution in metros. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) received its first batch of electric buses in August 2019, since then more AC electric buses are being added to its fleet.

"Our aim is to develop an environment friendly fleet. Currently we have 540 buses, out of these 330 are either CNG SSor electric. Recently we received a batch of 180 electric buses of which 105 are kinglong and 75 are midi buses. We are scrapping diesel-run buses phase wise and not going to purchase any new such vehicles, so we will have only CNG and electric buses," said Shirish Aradwad, General Manager, NMMT.

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NMMT has been using electric buses since August 2019

Recently, the state government announced a policy for electric vehicles, as an incentive for their purchase. "Officials who are using corporation-run vehicles will mandatorily have to use e-vehicles. There are still ifs and buts about e-vehicles among common citizens. If corporation officials take the initiative in this, it will definitely propagate the message among the masses" added an NMMC official.

"We have resolved to bring electric vehicles as well as infrastructure supporting it. Apart from purchasing electric vehicles for NMMC officials, we intend to raise state-of-the-art infrastructure for citizens which will enable them to buy e-vehicles. Setting up of 20 e-charging stations is underway and we believe within couple of months we can have some of them functioning," said Abhijit Bangar, NMMC commissioner.

NMMC has finalised 20 locations for the e-charging stations. The tendering process has been completed and officials are confident of starting construction work post-monsoon. Recently, a private-run charging station was inaugurated by Subhash Desai, minister for industries and mining in Turbhe. The charging facility is set to operate with 21 chargers (4 DC, 17 AC) which will be functional round the clock.