Scania hands over Ethanol driven Bus to NMC
Nagpur News.
In a colourful programme organized at Vasantrao Deshpande Hall on August 22, 2014, the dream project of Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Rural Development Nitin Gadkari finaly became a reality.
The programme started with Commissioner of Nagpur Municipal Corporation Shyam Wardhane expounding on the pilot project, which is the first in the country. He said that the Bus uses green fuel. He also thanked Nitin Gadkari for all the efforts he put in the last one week for the necessary permissions and other documentations.
Wardhane claimed that Nagpur city has a population of 25 lakhs. This includes 6 lakh families and 15 lakh vehicles. He said that the citizens are buying own vehicles since, the civic authorities have failed to give a proper, cheaper Public Transport System.
While addressing the audience, which included school children and engineering students who are learning Mechanical Engineering, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Rural Development Nitin Gadkari said that the farmer of our country can produce electricity and ethanol. What is needed is for us to encourage and motivate the farmers. He said that in Vidarbha many farmers commit suicide, the rate of Urea too has risen up and finally the harvest doesn’t yield good revenue.
Gadkari added that Ethanol can be a boon for the farmers. He said that ethanol is available in good amount. He claimed that they give 2 crores litres ethanol to Petrol company. India imports Rs 2 lakh crores worth of Petrol. Petrol has proved to be costly. He said that we can get ethanol at the rate of Rs 50 per litre, which in-turn will help the citizens in a big way. The farmers will benefit the most from Ethanol. He said that we have acquired the ethanol run bus from a Swedish company Scania. He claimed that there are 2000 such buses which run in Sweden.
He added that on August 21, 2014, Union Minister for Urban Development Venkaiya Naidu had assured that there will be 200 such ethanol run buses running in Nagpur.
Scania Commercial Vehicle India Pvt Ltd, a leading commercial vehicle and engines manufacturer, on August 22, 2014 handed over India’s first ever Ethanol-fuelled city bus to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for trial run on Nagpur roads.
Managing Director and Senior Vice-President of Scania Commercial Vehicles India Anders Grunstromer, Director of Sales, Scania Commercial Vehicles India Sivakumar V, handed over the bus keys to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Rural Development. Also present on the occasion were Joint Secretary of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Sanjay Gangopadhyaya, Mayor of Nagpur City Prof. Anil Sole and NMC Commissioner Shyam Wardhane. The key handing over was followed by the flag off of the Green Bus by Nitin Gadkari in the presence of NMC Officials.
Expressing his thoughts over the handover, Anders said, “We are delighted and proud to be able to venture this unique initiative along with the NMC. This represents an important step towards a common goal, the realization of energy-efficient and sustainable public transportation solutions in India. We have expertise and experience with ethanol run busses for more than 20 years. We view ethanol as the future for public transport. The use of ethanol as a vehicle fuel is the best example of what can be done here and now in sustainable development work to reduce green house gas emissions and local air pollution.”
“Public transport on ethanol busses is a cost-effective way of reducing several of city’s environmental problems. The solutions we are now developing create the necessary preconditions for both more attractive forms of travel and also better living conditions in city centres, without requiring major investments in new infrastructures. With this ethanol bus we also introduce an engine complying with Bharat Stage 5, which is a huge step to minimize emissions further. Bio-fuel is the sustainable solution for urban public transport here and now,” Anders Grundstrommer added.
Some of the salient points
* Earlier City Bus Service in Nagpur City was run by MSRTC.
* MSRTC issued NoC to NMC for running City Bus Service on March 3, 2014.
Accordingly the first agreement took place between NMC and VNIL on 9-02-2007 under ‘BOT’ basis.
* 230 buses to be brought by the operator as per first agreement.
* The four spaces for depot and parking of buses given by NMC.
* 240 buses purchased under JnNURM were handed over to M/s. VNIL as per supplementary Agreement in 2010.
* Total 470 buses operated in City Bus Service.
* The Municipal Commissioner shall permit the agent to revise its fares corresponding to MSRTC with effect from the date and time the revised rates are brought into effect.
* All the expenses for the operation and maintenance of buses shall be borne by the operator.
* The operator shall pay the royalty to NMC as per fixed rate.
* RTA has given 174 permits to NMC for City Bus Service and accordingly the City Bus Service is being run with the fleet of total 470 buses.(230 owned by operator + 240 pr procured under JnNURM).
* Looking after the growing population of Nagpur, a DPR for new 200 buses has been prepared and will be sent to GOI under JnNURM.
* Looking after the growing population of Nagpur, which will add 100 new buses to the existing fleet. Process for appointment of 2nd operator has been started and it is at final stage.
The compere Renuka Deshkar presented the entire programme in a beautiful manner with her couplets in Hindi and Marathi.
The prominent dignitaries who were present on the occasion included Deputy Mayor Jaitunbi Ashfaque Patel, Chairman of Standing Committee Narendra (Balya) Borkar, Leader of Ruling Party Praveen Datke, Additional Commissioner of NMC Hemant Kumar Pawar, Group Leader of Shiv Sena Sheetal Gharat, Group Leader of BSP Murlidhar Meshram, Group Leader of NCP Pragati Patil, Group Leader Independent Munna Pokulwar, Group Leader of Bharatiya Republic Bahujan Mahasangh Raju Lokhande, Group Leader of Bharatiya Republic Bahujan Mahasangh Rahul Telang, Group Leader of Indian Union Muslim League Mohammed Aslam Khan, Group Leader of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Shravan Khapekar and Managing Director cum Vice President of Scania.
