Mumbai will finally get the 700 new air-conditioned double-decker e-buses, ordered in October 2021, within this year. Their prototypes are expected to arrive soon for testing. An official from the Bombay Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking told mid-day that the e-buses will be provided by the contractor, Causis E-mobility, in phases.

The BEST official said that it has spent around Rs 2,800 crore on the new double-decker e-buses. The BEST had decided to procure 900 double-decker e-buses after the old non-AC buses were phased out. Currently, 47 new AC electric double-deckers are plying in the city. These were supplied by Switch Mobility, which is contracted to supply a total of 200 e-buses.

Currently, 47 AC double-decker e-buses provided by Switch Mobility are plying in the city. File pic

The remaining 700 electric double-deckers will be provided by Causis E-mobility. The company was given the order in October 2021 and it was to deliver all buses by May 2024. However, not a single bus has been provided so far.

“Amid the delays by Causis E-mobility to deliver on its contract, we wrote to them and asked them to provide the e-buses within a year. Causis E-mobility said that they are ready to deliver the e-buses in a year,” the official said.

“Causis E-mobility will soon be providing prototypes of the double-decker e-bus. We will use them and suggest any modifications required. The e-buses need to be comfortable for commuters and should run on city roads properly,” the official added.

The BEST has 2,941 buses in its fleet, including the 47 AC electric double-deckers already supplied by Switch Mobility. They are running in Colaba, BKC and Andheri. The new e-buses will be introduced on routes on which the old double-deckers used to operate.

BEST’s current fleet size

Buses owned by BEST 1,164
Buses rented by BEST 1,777
Total – 2, 941

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