The Union Government has reportedly offered 950 E-Buses for ten cities in the state under the ‘Pradhan Mantri E-Bus Seva’ initiative as part of a drive to enhance ‘green mobility.’ However, state Transport Minister K B Ganeshkumar of the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has stated that the state does not need them, and the respective file has been sent back. He mentioned that there are sufficient buses in Cherthala and Kayamkulam, the places listed in the proposal. The Minister claimed that Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are not included in the list. When it was pointed out that Thiruvananthapuram is indeed on the list, he replied that there is no space even for the buses currently operating there.
The Minister reportedly instructed that new diesel buses are sufficient. The transport department has communicated with the Finance Department, requesting Rs 93 crore that was allocated in the Plan Fund for purchasing 555 diesel buses. The Minister allegedly cited an excuse that, even though the Centre provides 950 buses free of cost, the state government would still need to find a source for Rs 42 crore. This raises the question of whether it is still beneficial for the state. However, the Minister has no answer to this. Allegations have emerged suggesting that the decision reflects a quid pro quo regarding the purchase of diesel buses, which may not be in the best interest of the state.
The Union Government has offered 10,000 electric buses to 169 cities under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). These buses operate on green energy and feature a Metro-like automatic bus fare payment system. The offer to Kerala includes 950 buses for ten cities in the state, consisting of low-floor buses in two sizes: 12 meters and 9 meters in length. Kerala had expressed interest in acquiring 300 buses of 12 meters in length, with 150 each for Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. The Centre provides drivers and charging stations, while the state must cover the fuel expenses. Additionally, a share of the state revenue, calculated based on the kilometres driven, should be paid to the Centre. The package has been drafted to ensure a profit of Rs 1,015 per kilometre for the state after accounting for all expenses, including the Centre’s share. This proposal, which was offered when Antony Raju was the Transport Minister, has been rejected by Ganeshkumar. Other states have successfully secured the availability of 3,975 buses. Here is the blatant example of neglecting and ignoring the state’s interest for the sake of something else.
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