TSRTC to run one e-Garuda electric bus to Vijayawada from Hyderabad every 20 minutes

HYDERABAD: The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) will run 50 electric buses in the Hyderabad-Vijayawada route, of which 10 buses will be introduced on Tuesday at the Pushpak Bus Point in Miyapur X Roads. The remaining buses will be introduced in a phased manner by the end of the year.

These environmentally friendly buses will operate every 20 minutes from Hyderabad. This 12-meter-long e-Garuda bus will have all facilities of a high-tech luxury bus. Each seat will have a mobile phone charging facility and a reading lamp for the individual comfort of the passenger.

A panic button was provided for every seat for the passengers to use in case of emergency. In addition to a passenger counting camera, the buses were equipped with three CCTV cameras with backup storage of data for one month.

The e-Garuda electric buses were provided with a tracking system and connected to the TSRTC control rooms to monitor their movement. The TSRTC has planned to introduce 1860, electric buses in the coming two years. While 1300, of these electric buses will be operated in Hyderabad city, 550 will be operated on long-haul routes. TSRTC will also introduce 10 electric double-decker buses in the city bus service.

The e-Garuda buses which can operate nonstop for 325 kilometers on a single charge were equipped with reverse parking assistance cameras and a Fire Detection and Suppression System. A public address system to reach out to passengers inside the bus and LED boards on the front and rear ends of the buses were provided.

The buses will be flagged off by Minister of Transportation Puvvada Ajay, TSRTC Chairman Bajireddy Govardhan Reddy, and Managing Director VC Sajjanar.