PUNE: Pune has become the first city in the country to have an exclusive bus depot for electric buses, paving the way for the city to become a frontrunner in electric mobility. 

The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has converted Bhekrai Nagar depot into an e-depot where only electric buses will be parked.  All CNG and diesel buses have been removed from the depot and only e-buses are being given space there Thursday onwards.  There are 78 e-buses at the depot. 

Soon, Nigdi bus depot will be converted into an e-bus depot.

The PMPML has more than 100 e-buses in its fleet. 

“The PMPML has installed charging points only at these two depots. Three days ago Bhekrai Nagar depot had diesel, CNG and e-buses. Now, it has only e-buses,” said a senior officer of PMPML.

“Out of the 150 e-buses, PMPML had added 25 in February this year of which 15 were sent to Bhekrai Nagar depot and 10 to Nigdi. The transport body is going to add 125 e-buses which will be 12 metres long. Out of this 75 buses will be added in Bhekrai Nagar and 50 at Nigdi. After that 90 and 60 e-buses will be added to both depots,” said a senior PMPML officer.

At present, there are 78 buses at Bhekrai Nagar depot and 28 at Nigdi. The department is also planning to add 500 e-buses over the next few years. A few months ago the Central government decided to grant 150 e-buses to Pune. Due to this reason, the PMPML has decided to convert both depots to e-depots.