Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Puri Transport Services (BPTS) has submitted a proposal to the Centre for a public transport project using electric vehicles to provide a pollution free mass transport option to the public.
The `219.75 crore project submitted to the Department of Heavy Industries will have electric buses, four-wheelers, three-wheelers and two-wheelers. The absence of a dependable public transport system has increased the number of two-wheelers and private vehicles in the capital. Officials are hoping that this project would reduce air pollution due to automobile emissions.
The capital is showing an increase of around 13 per cent in the numbers of two-wheelers, four-wheelers and three-wheelers (auto rickshaws) every year. The proposal suggested a fleet of 92 electric buses and 500 e-rickshaws for public transport. Officials expect that this fleet of e-vehicles would handle around two lakh passengers by 2021. 
In fact, smart transport is an essential component of the smart city project and according to sources around `10.5 crore has already been budgeted for this. However, a growing city like Bhubaneswar which holds the number one position in the country’s smart city project needs more assistance from the Centre for developing a smart public transport infrastructure.
“Other cities will also submit their proposals for reducing environmental pollution due to automobiles. But, since e-vehicles will not cause emissions we are hoping the Centre would consider our proposal,” said a top official of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.
With cities like Delhi struggling with air pollution sources told Orissa POST that the Centre is looking for cleaner options.
“The odd-even scheme is not so successful in reducing pollution in New Delhi. In fact, automobile emissions are a major factor in air pollution. But all of a sudden we cannot remove existing vehicles. So we are looking for projects which offer long term results,” said a top official of the Department of Heavy Industries.
PNN