The West Bengal government pledged to expand its fleet of compressed natural gas and electric buses as part of efforts to combat air pollution, Transport Minister Arjun Singh announced yesterday.
Speaking at the inauguration of a new CNG station at the South Bengal State Transport Corporation depot in Belgharia, Singh emphasised the government’s commitment to green energy and increased deployment of eco-friendly public transport.
The South Bengal State Transport Corporation has already inducted around 150 CNG buses, with numbers expected to increase in the coming years.
The newly inaugurated station, jointly set up by Bengal Gas Corporation Ltd and SBSTC at a cost of Rs 3.24 crore, will supply CNG to both government and private vehicles through a direct gas pipeline connection.
Earlier this year, the state government announced plans to introduce 1,000 new environment-friendly buses within a year, including both CNG and electric vehicles equipped with modern amenities.
In January, authorities flagged off 50 new buses at Paribahan Bhawan in Kolkata, comprising 43 CNG and seven electric vehicles. West Bengal has been gradually building its green transport infrastructure over the past several years.
The West Bengal Transport Corporation also operates a fleet of 100 electric buses in and around the city.
WBTC has signed an agreement with Bengal Gas Company Ltd for CNG supply to its depots, with BGCL set to establish CNG facilities at various government-run bus depots over the next five years.
Eight bus depots have been identified for CNG stations in the first phase, including Salt Lake, Thakurpukur, Barrackpore, Belghoria, Howrah, Santragachi, Karunamoyee and Kasba.
The move towards CNG-powered buses offers significant cost benefits alongside environmental advantages. Officials estimate the transition can save fuel costs by 20 to 30 per cent.
The initiative addresses both rising diesel costs and mounting concerns over vehicular pollution in Kolkata, which has struggled with poor air quality despite having fewer registered vehicles than other major Indian cities.
In 2019, the state government made a decision to transition the city’s bus fleet, along with its ferry fleet, to be entirely electric by 2030.
