Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government, on Independence Day took a step towards non-polluting transport systems when it launched the country’s first bio-fuel bus along with two other buses which run on ethanol on a pilot basis. Another 40 such buses are to be introduced by 2018.
All three buses launched in Goa run on bio-fuels which emit fewer greenhouse gases and cause minimal damage to the environment and have been introduced by Scania India Pvt Ltd in association with Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTC). The buses are also disabled friendly and persons using wheelchairs can easily board the buses.
The buses were flagged off at the hands of Governor Mridula Sinha and Scania Commercial Vehicles India, Managing Director of Business Unit Mikael Benje after which the Governor took a ride from the old Secretariat to the Raj Bhavan on the bus.
The launch makes Goa the second city after Nagpur to introduce ethanol powered buses on its roads. The buses will commence operations from August 16 and will ply on Panjim-Vasco and Panjim-Margao routes.
Sinha said, “This is very good occasion for Goa. Today is the 71st Independence Day and this day we are introducing this new system. This is a pilot project being undertaken in Goa which can be adopted in the other States as well.” She added, “With the inauguration of these buses our environmental pollution will also come down.”
KTC Managing Director Derick P Neto said the time has come to preserve the natural beauty that Goa is known for by switching to non-polluting transport solutions.
Benje said, “India’s commitment to bio fuels is commendable and we are delighted at this opportunity to help Goa make the transition to green fuel.”
