The Province 3 government, and Kathmandu and Lalitpur metropolis today signed an agreement with Sajha Yatayat to purchase electric buses.
Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning of Province 3 Kailash Prasad Dhungel, Mayor of Kathmandu metropolis Bidya Sundar Shakya, Mayor of Lalitpur metropolis Chiri Babu Maharjan, and chairperson of Sajha Yatayat Co-operative Kanak Mani Dixit signed a four-party memorandum of understanding (MoU) to buy the new electric buses (EVs) in the presence of province 3 Chief Minister Dormani Poudel, to operate electric buses inside the valley.
The provincial government, on the occasion, also handed over a cheque of Rs 300 million to Dixit to purchase the EVs. Besides, Kathmandu and Lalitpur metropolis will provide Rs 100 million and Rs 25 million as their share to the cooperative public transportation organisation to procure EVs. “Sajha itself will invest Rs 25 million in the project,” Dixit said, adding that Sajha will buy 30 electric vehicles by spending Rs 450 million.
The electric buses will come into operation in the Valley within the next 10 months, according to Sajha, which has estimated that 30 electric buses will be purchased after announcing a global tender.
On the occasion, the two metropolis handed over 20 euro-4 vehicles to Sajha. Of the 20 buses, six will operate between the Naya Bus Park and Suryavinayak route, another six buses will operate in the Naya Bus Park-Kamal Vanayak route and eight buses will operate in the Naya Bus Park-Lagankhel-TIA route. For the new buses, the KMC had invested Rs 60 million and LMC has invested Rs 10 million.
With the new buses, the Sajha has a total of 71 buses on its fleet. Earlier the cooperative had been operating 51 buses in 10 different routes in the Kathmandu Valley, with two routes in and out of the valley: the Kathmandu-Waling route and the Kathmandu-Butwal-Bhairawa route.
CM Poudel, after signing the deal, said that the coming age will be the age of electric vehicles. “The provincial government is corresponding with Nepal Electricity Authority regarding putting up required charging stations for the vehicles,” he added.
The government last December also had announced that it would purchase and operate 300 electric buses in major cities, but the plan could not be materialised.
Lalitpur metropolis Mayor Maharjan, speaking at the programme, said the new drive is going to transform the Valley’s transportation system.
Sajha cooperative, on the occasion, also officially unveiled its smart travel card ‘Yatra Card’, which can be used by passengers on all its buses.
Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning of Province 3 Kailash Prasad Dhungel, Mayor of Kathmandu metropolis Bidya Sundar Shakya, Mayor of Lalitpur metropolis Chiri Babu Maharjan, and chairperson of Sajha Yatayat Co-operative Kanak Mani Dixit signed a four-party memorandum of understanding (MoU) to buy the new electric buses (EVs) in the presence of province 3 Chief Minister Dormani Poudel, to operate electric buses inside the valley.
The provincial government, on the occasion, also handed over a cheque of Rs 300 million to Dixit to purchase the EVs. Besides, Kathmandu and Lalitpur metropolis will provide Rs 100 million and Rs 25 million as their share to the cooperative public transportation organisation to procure EVs. “Sajha itself will invest Rs 25 million in the project,” Dixit said, adding that Sajha will buy 30 electric vehicles by spending Rs 450 million.
The electric buses will come into operation in the Valley within the next 10 months, according to Sajha, which has estimated that 30 electric buses will be purchased after announcing a global tender.
On the occasion, the two metropolis handed over 20 euro-4 vehicles to Sajha. Of the 20 buses, six will operate between the Naya Bus Park and Suryavinayak route, another six buses will operate in the Naya Bus Park-Kamal Vanayak route and eight buses will operate in the Naya Bus Park-Lagankhel-TIA route. For the new buses, the KMC had invested Rs 60 million and LMC has invested Rs 10 million.
With the new buses, the Sajha has a total of 71 buses on its fleet. Earlier the cooperative had been operating 51 buses in 10 different routes in the Kathmandu Valley, with two routes in and out of the valley: the Kathmandu-Waling route and the Kathmandu-Butwal-Bhairawa route.
CM Poudel, after signing the deal, said that the coming age will be the age of electric vehicles. “The provincial government is corresponding with Nepal Electricity Authority regarding putting up required charging stations for the vehicles,” he added.
The government last December also had announced that it would purchase and operate 300 electric buses in major cities, but the plan could not be materialised.
Lalitpur metropolis Mayor Maharjan, speaking at the programme, said the new drive is going to transform the Valley’s transportation system.
Sajha cooperative, on the occasion, also officially unveiled its smart travel card ‘Yatra Card’, which can be used by passengers on all its buses.
No comments:
Post a Comment