The number of electric buses is going to increase in Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. The city will get 20 more buses under the Smart City Mission. The first bus reached Shimla. After the trial, other buses will also reach Shimla in a phased manner. For the trial, the corporation management has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the sub-divisional manager (technical). The first bus that reached Shimla will be run on selected routes of the city as a trial. For this, some climbing and descending routes of the city have been selected. After the trial, the committee will submit its report to the corporation management. All the 20 buses that the city will get will be 9 meters long. After full charging, the new buses can cover a distance of 200 km, due to which HRTC will be able to run these buses on long distance routes also.
Electric buses started operating in Shimla in February 2019. At present, 50 electric buses are running in the city. Electric bus is operating outside the city on Shimla-Solan route. For this, a charging station has also been set up at Solan Bus Stand. Engineer Vinod Sharma, regional manager of local depot of HRTC Shimla, said that Shimla has to get 20 new buses. The first bus has reached Shimla. A committee has been constituted for the trial of the bus. The engine power of the new buses is more than the electric buses running in the city.
Out of 20 buses available under Smart City Mission, the first bus has reached Shimla. Once fully charged, the new bus can run up to 200 km. At present, the buses running cover 150 kms. – Dr. Sandeep Kumar, Managing Director, HRTC
