Mangaluru: The rollout of electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme in KSRTC Mangaluru division has got delayed due to infrastructure constraints.Mescom has sought an additional six months to complete the setting up of a charging station at Kuntikana depot. Meanwhile, KSRTC’s Mangaluru division has sought another six months to one year for the completion of civil works at its depot. Rajesh Shetty, the senior divisional controller of KSRTC Mangaluru division, said 50 electric buses have already been sanctioned for the division in the first phase of PM-eBus Sewa, but operations can commence only after the setting up of a charging station and other related infrastructure. KSRTC has received Rs 8 crore from the central govt for setting up charging facilities at Kuntikana and at Balepuni village, where another depot is planned. However, the division is yet to receive Rs 11 crore from the central govt for civil works at Kuntikana and Balepuni. “Out of 100 e-buses sanctioned for Mangaluru division, 50 will be operated from Kuntikana and the remaining from Balepuni. The process of handing over govt land to set up an electric bus depot in Balepuni is in the final stage,” Shetty said. “We need to invest Rs 3 crore to set up a charging station through Mescom. Once Mescom completes work for the charging station, we will begin civil works. It will need about six months to one year for completion of civil works,” he added.
