Bengaluru: The State-run KSRTC will soon launch e-buses on 50 routes. It has issued work orders to procure 50 e-buses on a contract basis from a Hyderabad-based company. These buses will join the KSRTC fleet in the next three months.

“The first bus will come in the first week of April. After a study, the rest of the buses will join the KSRTC fleet. A bus will cover 450 kilometres per day with 43 passengers. The KSRTC will pay Rs. 55 per kilometre per day to the company which will send a bus driver and maintain the buses. KSRTC will also assign a conductor to collect the fare,” explained sources in the KSRTC.

Long-distance routes

According to the KSRTC officials, presently high-end buses are costing Rs. 56 per kilometre. “To make them profitable, the corporation will pick up long-distance routes like Bengaluru – Mangaluru, Bengaluru – Shivamogga, Bengaluru – Davanagere etc. KSRTC is planning to fix diesel bus fare itself to ensure that the experiment will not become a failure,” said officials.