New Delhi July 11 (IANS) In a major move to fight air pollution in Delhi and address commuters woes the state government on Wednesday gave in-principle approval for the hiring of a consultant to run 1 000 electric buses estimated to cost Rs 2 500 crore in the national capital as promised in its 2018-19 Budget.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the development on Twitter after the move was cleared at a cabinet meeting.
"Cabinet approves hiring of consultant to run 1 000 electric buses in Delhi. A big step in modernizing Delhi s transport sector and reducing pollution " Kejriwal said.
Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot called the step a "milestone in Delhi s fight to curb air pollution".
"1 000 e-buses will establish Delhi as a pioneer in clean public transport in India and globally. Delhi will have the highest number of electric buses (compared to) any city outside China " Gahlot told the media here.
Gahlot also said he has asked the transport department to study the possibility of using Hydrogen as a fuel.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told media that these buses will not only help in improving the public transportation but also in reducing the pollution level.
"The Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) Ltd has been hired as the consultant. A detailed study of the project will come in three months " Sisodia said.
All the buses will be low-floor having AC and will start running on Delhi roads within nine months. India as of now has only 30 e-buses he added.
Earlier this month the Delhi government had informed the Supreme Court that each vehicle would cost around Rs 2.5 crore.
The Delhi Assembly had passed the 2018-19 "green" budget with a focus on fighting pollution by commissioning 1 000 e-buses and providing subsidies for switching to non-polluting fuel.
As per a 1998 order of the Supreme Court Delhi should have a fleet of 10 000 buses for public transport but currently it has only 5 815 buses.

--IANS nks/mag/sed