Electric buses set to replace Volvo vehicles on Bengaluru airport routes – ET TravelWorld

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is gearing up to introduce AC electric buses on routes connecting Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). The prototype of these buses is expected to arrive in Nov, and the transport corporation will eventually replace all the existing Volvo AC buses, known as ‘Vayu Vajra‘, currently operating on 17 routes.

BMTC has entered into a leasing agreement with OHM Global Mobility, an Ashok Leyland subsidiary, for 320 AC e-buses under a gross cost contract basis. According to a senior BMTC official, around 140 Volvo buses currently operate on airport routes from various parts of the city, and they will all be replaced by e-vehicles.

The remaining new buses will be deployed on other routes. “Once we receive the prototype, necessary tests will be carried out. The private operator will start supplying buses after getting clearance from our end,” the official stated. BMTC initially plans to induct all the buses by March 2025. It will pay INR 65 per km as the operational cost to the private operator.

The decision to run AC e-buses on airport routes is based on several factors. Firstly, vehicle utilisation is much higher on these routes, with buses covering a distance of 300km a day, compared to the average of 200km for city buses. This makes airport routes ideal for leased buses, as the fleet can be optimally utilised. Enhancing the local travel experience for air passengers is another reason for replacing the existing buses.

BMTC now has a fleet of over 1,000 electric buses — all non-AC — operating within the city limits. The corporation has been providing bus services to the airport, located 34km from the city, for more than 15 years from the central business district and other areas such as Electronics City and Whitefield.

Despite the increasing competition from ride-hailing apps, these bus services remain affordable for passengers travelling to the airport. Officials report that 13,000 to 14,000 people use these buses daily.Passengers have recently raised concerns about the ageing fleet of buses operating on the airport routes. Initially, only AC buses with the brand name ‘Vayu Vajra’ were used on the route. However, after the pandemic outbreak, the corporation started running Vajra buses, which were primarily introduced for city commuting. Officials maintained there is no difference between Vayu Vajra and Vajra services when it comes to travel experience.

The airport route buses remain profitable for the corporation, with many people working at the airport also preferring to travel by them.