Team Herald

PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday rode the recently-launched biogas bus and said that after they are operated for six months on a trial basis, more buses would be procured based on the performance. 

Parrikar, speaking to the media, said use of biogas and ethanol as fuel would help reduce environmental pollution in the State. “This is one step in a compressive management plan. Rs 150 crore has been allotted in the Budget by which city buses and intercity bus transport would be converted into green fuel buses,” Parrikar said. He asserted that the fare will remain the same.  

The Chief Minister said that more buses will be procured after a proper tendering process. “We have not selected the company, it will be done though tender process. The company would be required to maintain the bus and train the driver. It will be their responsibility”, he said. 

“The contract for maintaining the buses would be for 15 years. We will only operate the buses, collect the fees and pay them based on kilometres run,” the Chief Minister said. 

He said the State won’t be spending on the buses but common man will able to use air conditioned buses. 

“There will be automated system in the buses, subsequently when the regular pattern starts, the bus will have a swiping machine,” Parrikar said. 

The launch of the green buses makes Goa the second place in the country, after Nagpur, to introduce ethanol powered buses. All three buses run on bio fuels emitting fewer greenhouse gases and cause minimal damage to the environment.