In an insightful revelation for the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), the operation of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses has emerged as a cost-effective alternative, proving to be 20 percent cheaper than electric buses (e-buses). While e-buses cost Rs 102 per kilometer, CNG buses come in at Rs 85 per kilometer.
This significant cost disparity is expected to trigger an uptick in the number of CNG buses in the PMPML fleet, promising reduced transportation expenses. This shift may also necessitate a pause in the procurement of e-buses to strike a balance within the fleet.
The central government’s e-bus policy mandates that 30 percent of the passenger service organization’s buses be electric by 2030. Driven by political pressure, the PMPML achieved this target in 2023. Currently, e-buses make up 32 percent of the PMPML fleet. Even without the addition of new e-buses over the next seven years, the organization can continue its operations smoothly.
However, PMPML has recently grappled with the operational challenges stemming from the charging patterns of e-buses. Currently, all 458 e-buses in the fleet are owned by contractors. The operational costs of e-buses surpass the revenue generated from their transportation services. Moreover, the time-intensive charging process and trip cancellations during peak afternoon hours have substantially affected passenger services.
Contractors, thanks to their significant number of buses, have established a quasi-monopoly within PMPML. To mitigate transportation costs and reduce the dominance of contractors, PMPML has decided to expand its CNG bus fleet while adjusting the number of e-buses accordingly.
Key Highlights:
- Idle Buses: 192 buses have remained idle for the past 16 months due to the unavailability of e-bus batteries, with no clarity on when they will become accessible.
- Charging Challenges: Charging e-buses is a time-consuming process, taking five hours for AC chargers and two hours and 30 minutes for DC chargers.
- Afternoon Service Disruptions: High passenger volumes during afternoons result in over 200 buses being out of service for charging, leading to numerous trip cancellations.
- Spare Parts and Maintenance: Procuring spare parts for e-buses is a challenging task, and the repair workforce comes from Hyderabad, causing significant delays in maintenance.
The revelation about the cost-efficiency of CNG buses compared to e-buses could reshape the future of public transportation in Pune, with an emphasis on economic viability and improved passenger services.
