1K more TN buses to take CNG route as trial run goes well

WITH the trial run of 22 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses across eight transport corporations yielding significant cost savings and enhanced mileage for the state transport undertakings (STUS), the transport department has decided to convert 1,000 diesel buses to CNG across the state.

- B ANBUSELVAN

Tenders have been invited for this initiative, according to sources.

The number of buses allocated for conversion for each transport undertaking has not been finalised yet. Buses aged six to seven years or those with a total running distance of less than eight lakh kilometres will be selected for conversion.

The average cost for converting a diesel bus to CNG has been set at 7 lakh. While mofussil buses recover conversion expenses in nine to 10 months, town buses will require 12 to 13 months. As per official sources, buses undergoing conversion director of Pallavan Transport Consultancy Services (PTCS), the technical arm of the transport department, told TNIE that this initiative aligns with the state government's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through programmes like the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission. He highlighted that the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has already undertaken environment-friendly initiatives by planning to replace diesel buses with 1,200 electric buses in the coming months.