Residents of the city would be delighted to hear that starting on January 1, 2024, more environmentally friendly buses will be launched in and around Guwahati.
The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) plans to launch about 300 green buses in January 2024 in an effort to reduce air pollution in the capital.
Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) Managing Director Rahul Das informed the media that the state government intends to carry out this initiative in compliance with the Government of India’s directive to have “only Electric Vehicles” on the road by 2030.
According to sources, the buses have already arrived in Guwahati and are positioned near Rupnagar. They will probably be flagged off in the first week of January. These buses will operate on electricity and can go up to 200 kilometres when completely charged, taking the place of the diesel-powered red city buses.
These buses, in contrast to CNG-powered buses, are anticipated to operate on every route in Guwahati, according to sources.
At least 300 brand-new, innovative buses will be added for Guwahati commuters thanks to the Guwahati Smart City project. However, bids have already been opened for the acquisition of 100 TATA CNG vehicles, which will likely cost around Rs 40 lakh a piece.
The ASTC workshop facility in Rupnagar has a charging station set up, and the buses will need to be charged every day. In order to facilitate charging at various locations without needing to travel to Rupnagar, ASTC has also planned to install additional charging stations throughout the city.
The expensive price of these cutting-edge cars was the main disadvantage of such a “green” approach, but Das claims the government was already considering “subsidies and other benefits” for private companies interested in introducing such vehicles.
Additionally, five charging stations are being installed by the ASTC and Assam Gas Company at the following five locations: Rupnagar, ISBT, Jagiroad, Mirza, and Baihata. These locations are outside of the city limits.
 plans to launch about 300 green buses in January 2024 in an effort to reduce air pollution in the capital.){kind=link}