Trolleybuses for New Delhi 2

NEW DELHI: The Indian capital may soon have sleek, air-conditioned, high-speed buses similar to those on the streets of Europe. "We have received a detailed project report on electric trolley buses (ETBs) and we are getting it examined to find out if they are technically and economically feasible," Delhi Transport Minister Ajay Maken told IANS. Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL), which prepared the project report, submitted it to a committee set up by the Delhi government last month. "We would know for sure by the end of this month," Maken said.

"Apart from ETBs, we are also planning a high-capacity bus system." "Commuters would travel in comfort and at a high speed, but would pay the same amount as in local buses. Each ETB would have a carrying capacity of 100 passengers," the minister said. The two new transport systems could come as a boon for millions in this city of 15 million who today rely on inadequate public commuter buses.

"We would have dedicated lanes for these two systems, which would not only mean speed but also an efficient transport system," Maken said. The semi-low floor, air-conditioned buses with pneumatic doors, which are mostly seen in Switzerland, Italy, France, Russia and Brazil, could be imported or indigenously made in India, the minister said.

"If we want to immediately install ETBs, we would import the coaches. For this, global tenders would be called. It would mean spending a lot of money. "But if we wait for sometime, make the parts and assemble it all here, it would cost us less. All this will also be discussed," he said.

Maken said the transport department had also drawn seven separate corridors for the two systems. "It could mean residents would switch from their own vehicles to these public means of transportation. That would mean less traffic on the roads and less traffic jams," he said.

Combining the two systems -- one moving on electricity, the other on compressed natural gas (CNG), a green fuel -- would also mean less pollution, Maken said.

He said if the project went ahead, the first phase
would be completed in nine months. "The first phase would take nine months to complete. It would connect Hari Nagar (in the west) with Dhaula Kuan (in the south)." "Our focus is on reducing congestion, improving air quality through lower levels of vehicular pollution and enhancing road safety while improving amenities for commuters," Maken said. Maken said they would spend around Rs.30 million
per km in each project.