TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy on Monday launched ten eco-friendly buses in Tirumala along with the TTD EO Sri AV Dharma Reddy, JEO Sri Veerabrahmam.
The Chairman said, M/s Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd., Hyderabad has come forward to donate 10 electric buses to TTD to operate as free buses for internal conveyance of pilgrims in Tirumala. The cost of each e-bus is Rs.1.80 Cr (Total 10 buses cost is Rs.18.00 Cr).
He said the motto is to protect the sanctity and serenity of Tirumala hills by reducing vehicular pollution. The TTD Board, a couple of years ago had resolved to replace the diesel vehicles with e-vehicles in a phased manner.
In 1st phase, 35 e-cars (TATA Nexon) are introduced in Tirumala for the official use of TTD officers, procured from M/s CESL, JV company of PSUs under Ministry of Power, GOI on a dry lease basis(without driver).
Later upon the request of TTD, APSRTC also now operates 64 e-buses in Tirumala-Tirupati ghat roads. TTD will establish charging stationsat its workshop, Tirumala and the same will be completed by April 15 and M/s Olectra will provide training to the TTD drivers to operate the e-buses. “We are contemplating to replace the existing taxis with e-vehicles and soon Tirumala will be made environment friendly free from pollution”, he asserted.
After performing pujas to the fleet of e-buses, the officials were taken for a drive.CE Sri Nageswara Rao, SE 2 Sri Jagadeeshwar Reddy, GM Transport Sri Sesha Reddy, HO Dr Sridevi, DyEO Sri Harindranath, VGO Sri Bali Reddy and other officials were present.
