Nagpur: With the aim of providing better transport system in the Second Capital City of Nagpur, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation had started a fleet of environment friendly buses, popularly called Green Buses, run on ethanol. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had flagged off the buses with much fanfare on December 5, 2016. A fleet of 8 Green Buses along with brand new Red buses were to run on city streets.
But the citizens are not witnessing the signs of Green Buses running on city roads. They see only red! The reason is: All the Green buses are parked at Scania Maintenance Depot on Amravati Road. The buses have not moved an inch to run on roads even after more than 40 days after the grand launch.
The infrastructure needed to run the Ethanol buses has still not in place. The fuel is not available in city. With the wheels of Green buses stuck in depot itself, the Opposition parties are cornering the BJP leadership. City Congress President Vikas Thakre said that the BJP leaders started the bus service in a hurry without creating the necessary infrastructure. There is not a single ethanol pump in the city.
Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar said that Green buses will take more 15-20 days to begin operation. The fuel pumps are being set up and the buses will start running on city roads soon.
