Latest news with #JNNURM
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
30 new AC e-buses roll in, Aapli Bus EV fleet to grow to 260
1 2 Nagpur: The city's push towards cleaner and greener public transport is gaining pace, with 30 new air-conditioned electric buses arriving this week under the much-delayed 250 e-bus project sanctioned in 2023 by then deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. These buses will soon be inducted into the Aapli Bus service, increasing the electric vehcile fleet from 230 to 260. The Aapli Bus fleet now comprises a total of 539 buses, including 150 midi buses, 45 mini buses, and 237 standard diesel buses procured under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Out of the 230 electric midi buses already in service, 184 are air-conditioned while 46 are non-AC. Many of the 237 standard diesel buses have surpassed their 15-year lifespan. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has already begun phasing them out. In the first phase, 123 such ageing buses were scrapped, and more are expected to be replaced gradually as electric buses arrive. In 2023, Fadnavis sanctioned Rs136 crore for the procurement of 250 AC e-buses. However, the project was marred by delays, including the enforcement of the model code of conduct during the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Costco Shoppers Say This Wrinkle Cream Is "Actually Worth It" The Skincare Magazine Undo The Rs550 crore project finally gained traction in 2024 when NMC awarded the contract to Hansa Vahan India Private Limited, which partnered with EKA Mobility for the execution. "NMC twice floated tenders for this project. Hyderabad-based Olectra and Nagpur-based Hansa Vahan India Pvt Ltd emerged as top contenders. Hansa's competitive bid of Rs62.84 per km was significantly lower than Olectra's Rs77.91, leading to the selection of the local firm. NMC issued the Letter of Award on October 11, 2023, and gave the firm 300 days to supply and operate all 250 buses," said a senior transport official. As per the Request for Proposal (RFP), the selected contractor is to operate the 250 air-conditioned electric buses under this scheme at a cost of Rs62.91 per kilometre. The state govt is offering a subsidy of Rs55 lakh per bus, while the remaining cost will be borne by the operator. NMC will pay the operator based on the kilometres operated. The official added that NMC has already received the first lot of 30 e-buses from the company. Construction of depots is underway at Wathoda and Khapri. Meanwhile, the company has been temporarily allotted space at the Matrishakti E-Depot in Lakadganj for setting up a charging station, allowing it to begin operations while permanent infrastructure is developed. In addition, the civic body is expecting the first lot of e-buses next month as part of the 150 sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Sewa scheme. Besides this, NMC has also sent a proposal to the PMe-Bus Sewa scheme to allocate another 240 e-buses. "By next year, NMC plans to phase out the remaining JNNURM standard buses. By 2029, our target is to convert the entire city fleet to electric, achieving zero emissions in public transport operations," the official said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Madurai's neglected channels expose years of civic failure
Madurai: The hasty cover-up of garbage along Panthalkudi channel ahead of chief minister M K Stalin's roadshow may have briefly hidden the waste, but it laid bare a long-festering crisis. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Madurai has over 16 open channels, most now clogged, neglected, and reduced to garbage dumps. Ancient waterways like the Kiruthumal have become sewage drains, choked by encroachments and civic apathy. A turf war between the public works department (PWD) and the Madurai Corporation over desilting and maintenance has stalled action. Within the corporation, blame shifts between departments, with engineers faulting poor garbage collection for the rampant dumping. As urban growth surges, these neglected water corridors — once flood lifelines — resurface in public attention only during VIP visits. "Madurai naturally has a good drainage system that prevents flooding by channeling water to the Vaigai," said Tamil Dasan, convener of the Madurai Nature Cultural Forum. "But now, sewage flows through these channels year-round, showing how residential waste is being illegally diverted." Civic activists argue desilting alone won't help unless sewage inflow and solid waste dumping are curbed. "Stormwater drains are being misused as open drainage lines," said activist M Raj Kumar, pointing to the Kiruthumal and Avaniyapuram channels. This was highlighted in the final report by the consultant recruited by the corporation, who studied the stormwater drain network in the city." "The corporation is accountable for cleaning and protecting these channels," said M Rajan of the Vaigai Nathi Makkal Iyakkam. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With the monsoon nearing, he stressed the need for urgent action. AIADMK councillors have accused both the corporation and PWD of inaction. Opposition leader M Solai Raja called the desilting efforts an eyewash. "Jurisdiction isn't the issue — intention is. The corporation undertook channel concretisation under JNNURM between 2006 and 2014. We've been demanding special funds for desilting for three years," he said. A fresh point of debate is the draft detailed project report (DPR) proposing concrete lining for channels — a move earlier criticised for blocking water percolation. "This will stop groundwater recharge," warned S S Bose of the Meenakshi Nagar Residents' Association. "We need sand beds, not concrete. And the corporation should take full control of the channels, as in Chennai." Corporation commissioner Chitra Vijayan told TOI that desilting would be completed before the monsoon using general funds. "At Panthalkudi, we are also repairing nearby sewerage networks using the same funds, and we will see a visible improvement in the appearance of the channel in the coming days," she said. The corporation has sought full maintenance rights from the PWD. Meanwhile, a senior PWD official said desilting of the Kiruthumal and Nilaiyur channels has begun at a cost of ₹15 crore. **List of the 16 Main Channels:** 1. Kiruthumal Channel 2. Vandiyur Channel 3. Panthalkudi Channel 4. Avaniyapuram Channel 5. Nilaiyur Channel 6. Panthalkudi Channel 7. Melamadai Channel 8. Anupanadi Channel 9. Jaihindpuram main Channel 10. Sellur Channel 11. Madakulam Channel 12. Muthupatti Channel 13. Kosakulam Channel 14. Thandalai Channel 15. Panaiyur Channel 16. Chintamani Channel **Total Estimated Length of all Channels in City limits:** Around 170 kilometres **Key Issues:** - Sewage mixing with rainwater channels - Garbage dumping in open drains - Confusion over maintenance responsibility - Lack of regular desilting - Encroachments blocking flow - Stormwater drains used as sewage lines **Suggested Solutions:** - Hand over channels to Madurai Corporation - Seal sewage inlets into channels - Improve waste collection - Avoid full concrete lining, retain sand beds - Allocate dedicated desilting funds - Raise public awareness on channel misuse **Modern Interventions in Channels** **Methodology Used in Corporations** **IoT-Based Drain Monitoring** Sensors and cameras track water levels and blockages in real-time. Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru **Drone and GIS Mapping** Drones survey channels; GIS maps help plan cleaning and detect encroachments. Coimbatore, Pune, Hyderabad **Bioremediation** Uses natural microbes to treat sewage in open drains. Delhi, Pune, Ludhiana **Smart Desilting Machines** Robotic tools remove silt from drains without manual work Chennai, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram (Even piloted in Madurai) MSID:: 121887027 413 |
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
NMC seeks 240 more e-buses, begins scrapping old fleet
In a major push for sustainable public transport , the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) submitted a proposal to Maharashtra govt seeking 240 additional electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme . This move coincides with civic body's phased scrapping of 237 old diesel-run buses procured over a decade ago under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). In a letter to urban development department, municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari requested 140 standard 12-metre electric AC buses and 100 midi 9-metre electric AC buses. The proposal follows a directive from the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA), which invited cities to indicate if they require additional electric alternatives under the central scheme. Earlier, NMC was allotted 150 electric buses under the scheme and is now looking to further bolster its clean-energy fleet. The civic body highlighted its preparedness to handle the additional buses, pointing to progress in building depot charging infrastructure and back-end power systems essential for electric operations. Confirming the development, Aapli Bus administrative officer Sonam Deshmukh said the detailed proposal, including technical specifications, infrastructure plans, and required undertakings, was submitted to the state-level steering committee for approval. "The expansion is expected to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and enhance daily commuting experience through quieter and more reliable transport," she said. NMC previously owned 539 buses, including 237 sanctioned under JNNURM. These are being phased out in two stages: the first phase involves auctioning 123 buses, followed by another 114 in the second phase. Currently, NMC operates 150 midi, 45 mini, and 230 electric buses. Of the electric fleet, 184 are AC buses and 46 are non-AC. These buses run on 129 routes with an average of 6,209 daily trips, covering nearly one lakh kilometres and serving around 1.17 lakh commuters each day. This year, another 400 AC electric buses will be added to the Aapli Bus fleet—250 from the state govt and 150 under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme. The first batch of 40 centrally sanctioned buses is expected to arrive starting July. Depots for these buses are being developed at Koradi and Khapri, while infrastructure for the 250 state-allotted buses is under construction at Wathoda.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
NMC seeks 240 more e-buses, begins scrapping old fleet
1 2 Nagpur: In a major push for sustainable public transport, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) submitted a proposal to Maharashtra govt seeking 240 additional electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme. This move coincides with civic body's phased scrapping of 237 old diesel-run buses procured over a decade ago under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). In a letter to urban development department, municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari requested 140 standard 12-metre electric AC buses and 100 midi 9-metre electric AC buses. The proposal follows a directive from the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA), which invited cities to indicate if they require additional electric alternatives under the central scheme. Earlier, NMC was allotted 150 electric buses under the scheme and is now looking to further bolster its clean-energy fleet. The civic body highlighted its preparedness to handle the additional buses, pointing to progress in building depot charging infrastructure and back-end power systems essential for electric operations. Confirming the development, Aapli Bus administrative officer Sonam Deshmukh said the detailed proposal, including technical specifications, infrastructure plans, and required undertakings, was submitted to the state-level steering committee for approval. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like サントリーロコモアが５,９４０→１,０８０円で試せる ロコモア こちらをクリック Undo "The expansion is expected to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and enhance daily commuting experience through quieter and more reliable transport," she said. NMC previously owned 539 buses, including 237 sanctioned under JNNURM. These are being phased out in two stages: the first phase involves auctioning 123 buses, followed by another 114 in the second phase. Currently, NMC operates 150 midi, 45 mini, and 230 electric buses. Of the electric fleet, 184 are AC buses and 46 are non-AC. These buses run on 129 routes with an average of 6,209 daily trips, covering nearly one lakh kilometres and serving around 1.17 lakh commuters each day. This year, another 400 AC electric buses will be added to the Aapli Bus fleet—250 from the state govt and 150 under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme. The first batch of 40 centrally sanctioned buses is expected to arrive starting July. Depots for these buses are being developed at Koradi and Khapri, while infrastructure for the 250 state-allotted buses is under construction at Wathoda.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
NMC to auction 123 old diesel buses this week
Nagpur: In a major step towards providing safer and more eco-friendly public transport, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) transport department is set to auction 123 diesel buses that are over 15 years old. These buses, originally acquired in 2010 under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), deteriorated significantly and are being phased out due to high pollution levels caused by diesel. "We are introducing electric buses to promote environmental sustainability and safer transport in the city. As part of this effort, 15-year-old diesel buses are being phased out in stages. In the first phase, 123 such buses are being auctioned," said NMC's transport department manager Vinod Jadhav. NMC's fleet includes 240 diesel buses, out of which three are non-functional due to fire damage, 112 are operational, and 70 converted to run on CNG. Remaining buses are non-operational. A special committee comprising officials from the state transport department, RTO, and NMC transport department completed valuation of the 123 buses. The online auction process will be conducted this week through the Maharashtra Scrap Trading Corporation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo NMC operates 537 buses on 129 routes, serving approximately 1.39 lakh passengers daily. This fleet includes 230 electric buses, 112 old diesel buses, 150 midi buses and 45 mini buses. NMC is gradually removing outdated diesel buses from service. By June, the city is also expected to receive more electric buses under the PM E-Bus Seva scheme. The auction process is aligned with a central govt policy that mandates proper disposal of outdated vehicles and scrap. Govt departments, including NMC, must first assess and fix an 'offset value' for the scrap material. Registered bidders on the online portal can then bid for items like metal parts and plastic components. The highest bidder above the offset value deposits the amount online and is then granted access to inspect and collect the scrap.
