The Sindh government is set to test electric buses in Karachi beginning on Thursday. Contrary to what you might think, a six-and-a half-mile route was chosen due to the high volume of traffic. The project is part of the provincial government’s plan to switch to electric vehicles in a bid to improve air quality in Karachi.
Sindh government to test electric buses in Karachi from tomorrow
Sindh Government will begin testing electric buses in Karachi. This is a part of the plan to switch to electric vehicles and reduce pollution and fuel costs.
Karachi Electric Bus Transit Company (KEBTCO) will operate these buses to help people get around the city. The first route will run from Bagh-e-Khan Chowk to Mai Kolachi while the second route operates between Landhi and Goth Muhammedi.
The buses are fully equipped with air conditioning, GPS tracking, and CCTV cameras. The buses can fit up to 80 passengers at once and each one will have a driver and conductor.
The government of Sindh said it is committed to making Karachi a cleaner and greener city, and that it hopes the test of these electric buses will be successful.
How will electric buses be tested?
The government of Sindh plans to test electric buses in Karachi from tomorrow. The buses will be tested on different city routes to see if they are a viable option for public transport.
Electric buses have already been tested in Lahore and Islamabad, and the results have been positive so far. The government hopes that electric buses will also be a success in Karachi.
On Sunday, Sindh’s Information Minister Sharjeel Inam announced that he will test Karachi’s first electric buses tomorrow. As per Sharjeel Memon’s plan in her tweet, 50 electric buses have arrived so far. Therefore, the test drive will take place tomorrow without delay. In the first phase, the test will be carried out in the metropolis tomorrow. However, the routes will be decided later, after the testing phase.
After the launch ceremony, reporting to the media, he promised to bring more buses to the city’s roads in cooperation with the private sector.
The purpose of operating the electric buses is to facilitate passengers from Karachi. Not only that, but it will also help to reduce pollution and carbon emissions. The buses are completely eco-friendly and will help modernize Karachi’s transport system. In 2021, Sindh Transport Minister Syed Awais Shah took an initiative and launched the first electric buses in Karachi. He inaugurated the project in a public-private partnership.
The first electric bus route was from Tower to Sohrab Goth and rates were as low as Rs 10/-. Public transport was seat-to-seat and the fare was Rs 4 per kilometer. He planned to increase the number of buses to 100 by the end of 2021. Later this year, the government put the plan into action by introducing electric buses in Karachi.
As we all know, electric buses are highly efficient and have lower operating costs than diesel ones. Fuel savings are significant when comparing electricity to diesel. Electric buses need less maintenance compared to diesel buses. In practice, electric buses are reliable, safe and have idle rates similar to other technologies.
Many countries have already switched their transportation system to battery-powered vehicles. In addition, electric buses have a positive impact on the community. It is a reliable transport that offers a smooth ride and improves feelings among passengers. Efficient engine helps reduce noise pollution and smoke smell.