With around 100 new electric buses set to roll out in Belagavi in the coming months, plans are in motion to transform the existing city bus station into a dedicated e-bus station, a key move toward sustainable urban transport.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the proposal on October 4 during his visit to inaugurate the newly built city bus station. The upcoming fleet of electric buses has been sanctioned under the central government’s ‘PM e-Drive’ scheme, which aims to promote eco-friendly public transport and curb urban pollution.
As per official sources, the proposed e-bus station will be developed on 5.5 acres of land at an estimated cost of Rs 18 crore. The project awaits approval from the Centre, after which construction will commence.
Kempanna Gudennavar, Divisional Controller of NWKRTC, told TOI, “The new e-bus station will come up on 5.5 acres of land, including the current city bus station area, as per the proposal.” He added that the facility will feature charging points, parking bays, a maintenance workshop, and other essential infrastructure for e-buses.
The project cost will be shared between the Centre and the state government. Meanwhile, work on the charging and parking infrastructure is expected to begin soon, ahead of the buses’ arrival.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy has also confirmed that the allocation of electric buses is underway and will be supplied to Karnataka in phases.
