Gujarat to test 'green' public transport system soon

Pilot project to have 15-40 seater electric buses for transport, solar charging points

After the success of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), the Gujarat government will soon introduce a public transport system where the vehicles would run on electricity. This initiative is part of a larger plan to promote the use of clean energy in public transport, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also emphasised.

The Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd (GPCL) has developed the pilot project to run electric buses between the twin cities of Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. This project includes purchase of 15-40 seater buses and setting up of solar-power based electric charging stations at regular distances on the 35-km long stretch between the two cities.

GPCL had invited Expressions of Interest (applications) from companies interested in the project a few months ago, the applications could not be processed because of the Lok Sabha elections.

“Now the applications by various players in the renewable energy sector are being processed. Once this part is over, we would invite bids for the project and finalise the schedule for opening and scrutiny of bids,” said a senior official with GPCL, which is the nodal agency for all state government projects in the renewable energy sector such as wind, solar tidal and geothermal power projects.

The cost of the mass transport project involving electric buses has not been finalised yet by GPCL. The electric buses would be integrated with solar power charging stations for fast charging using solar powered energy. The project involves deploying, commissioning, supervising, and monitoring the electric vehicle transport system based on solar-powered energy for a period of six months from the date of commissioning.

“Since this project is on pilot basis, we would be monitoring it closely for the first six months. Based on the outcome of the initial exercise, further expansion of the project would be planned,” explained the GPCL official quoted above. He added that the project was part of the commitment of the Gujarat government to encourage clean energy in mass transport system.

GPCL would soon start running electric buses within the state secretariat campuses, old and new, in Gandhinagar. All formalities have been completed and the service is likely to begin soon.

Considering the volatile fuel prices in the market, it makes sense for other states also to undertake similar clean energy initiatives, according to experts. Gujarat has emerged the leader in solar energy sector. The state tops the list of solar power generating states in India with total commissioned capacity of 860.4 Mw. Gujarat is followed by Rajasthan at 666.75 Mw as of January 31, 2014. The total commission capacity in India stands at 2,208.36 Mw, of which Gujarat constitutes 39 per cent.

State-run Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd has entered into 88 power purchase agreements (PPAs) for procuring 971.5 Mw for a period of 25 years at the rate of an average Rs  12.54 a unit. Gujarat also has a 590-Mw solar park spread across 5,384 acres at Charanka village in Patan district. It was launched on December 30, 2010 and commissioned on December 31, 2011 and was formally dedicated to the nation by Modi on April 19, 2012. Besides, a 5,000-Mw solar park is being planned in the Kharaghoda region of Gujarat by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.