<p>Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is set to launch air-conditioned electric bus services to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) after June 15. </p>.<p>The corporation plans to deploy 83 AC e-buses on the Vayu Vajra route in a phased manner, according to GT Prabhakar Reddy, Chief Traffic Manager (Operations), BMTC. </p>.<p>Initially, 8-10 buses will be deployed and the number will be increased as the charging infrastructure keeps pace, he added. </p>.<p>The BMTC is leasing 320 AC e-buses from OHM Global Mobility, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland-backed Switch Mobility, and has received 114 so far. To begin with, 83 buses will be deployed on the airport route, primarily from Majestic and Banashankari, Reddy said. </p>.Safety takes a backseat for Bengaluru motorists.<p>The BMTC's plans to operate AC e-buses to the airport have been slowed by the tedious installation of charging infrastructure on the airport premises. </p>.<p>The charging station is located about 1 km away from KIA's Terminal 2, and will be equipped with six chargers. The opportunity charging system takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour to charge a bus — here, the buses are recharged within brief intervals throughout the day. </p>.<p>"The bus manufacturer takes charge of the charging facility. We're hoping they'll wrap up the project by June 15," he told <span class="italic"><em>DH. </em></span></p>.<p>The AC e-buses are aimed at replacing the BMTC's ageing fleet of Volvo buses. The corporation currently has 434 Volvo buses, including 150 that run on the airport route, another senior official said. </p>.<p>The 109 AC e-buses in the BMTC's fleet are operated from Kadugodi to Banashankari, Majestic, Silk Board Junction, and from Hoskote to Attibele. </p>.<p><span class="bold"><strong>'Poor ride quality' </strong></span></p>.<p>Hinderances in the deployment of drivers have also been attributed as another reason for the delay. </p>.<p>"Unlike the regular BMTC buses, for these buses, the drivers are hired and trained by the manufacturers. There's been a delay in this as well," Reddy said. </p>.<p>Passengers who've recently travelled on the AC e-buses complain about poor ride quality. </p>.<p>"Usually, electric vehicles are known to be smooth on the road. But recently, when I took one of the new electric buses from Majestic, it was a horrible experience. The bus kept jerking violently. When I brought it up with the driver, he claimed it was a fault with the bus," says Akram Baig, a 56-year-old Srirampura resident. </p>.<p>Some passengers also complained about rude behaviour by the drivers. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is set to launch air-conditioned electric bus services to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) after June 15. </p>.<p>The corporation plans to deploy 83 AC e-buses on the Vayu Vajra route in a phased manner, according to GT Prabhakar Reddy, Chief Traffic Manager (Operations), BMTC. </p>.<p>Initially, 8-10 buses will be deployed and the number will be increased as the charging infrastructure keeps pace, he added. </p>.<p>The BMTC is leasing 320 AC e-buses from OHM Global Mobility, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland-backed Switch Mobility, and has received 114 so far. To begin with, 83 buses will be deployed on the airport route, primarily from Majestic and Banashankari, Reddy said. </p>.Safety takes a backseat for Bengaluru motorists.<p>The BMTC's plans to operate AC e-buses to the airport have been slowed by the tedious installation of charging infrastructure on the airport premises. </p>.<p>The charging station is located about 1 km away from KIA's Terminal 2, and will be equipped with six chargers. The opportunity charging system takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour to charge a bus — here, the buses are recharged within brief intervals throughout the day. </p>.<p>"The bus manufacturer takes charge of the charging facility. We're hoping they'll wrap up the project by June 15," he told <span class="italic"><em>DH. </em></span></p>.<p>The AC e-buses are aimed at replacing the BMTC's ageing fleet of Volvo buses. The corporation currently has 434 Volvo buses, including 150 that run on the airport route, another senior official said. </p>.<p>The 109 AC e-buses in the BMTC's fleet are operated from Kadugodi to Banashankari, Majestic, Silk Board Junction, and from Hoskote to Attibele. </p>.<p><span class="bold"><strong>'Poor ride quality' </strong></span></p>.<p>Hinderances in the deployment of drivers have also been attributed as another reason for the delay. </p>.<p>"Unlike the regular BMTC buses, for these buses, the drivers are hired and trained by the manufacturers. There's been a delay in this as well," Reddy said. </p>.<p>Passengers who've recently travelled on the AC e-buses complain about poor ride quality. </p>.<p>"Usually, electric vehicles are known to be smooth on the road. But recently, when I took one of the new electric buses from Majestic, it was a horrible experience. The bus kept jerking violently. When I brought it up with the driver, he claimed it was a fault with the bus," says Akram Baig, a 56-year-old Srirampura resident. </p>.<p>Some passengers also complained about rude behaviour by the drivers. </p>