PM Narendra Modi attends function for the Demonstration of Retrofit Electric

Terming the unfavorable impact of environment pollution as a challenge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday stated there is a need to harness solar energy.

“The world has been discussing issues concerning the environment for a long time, but the ill-effects of pollution have been felt only of late”, he said after launching the “Go Green” bus service in the Parliament House complex here. US, France, India together have taken this initiative of innovation and Bill Gates foundation is also part of this initiative.

The Prime Minister briefly visited the bus, and handed over the key of the bus to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Smt.

“An imported electric bus costs about Rs 1.75 crore whereas the one converted indigenously will cost about Rs 60 lakh, the price of which is likely to be reduced further on technology advancement”, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said. There is no sound and pollution in this bus. “With India’s initiative, an organisation of such nations has been formed”, Mr. Modi said. But focus will be on Make in India so that the cost reduces soon.

Electric buses run on charged batteries, the per km travel cost is nearly half in comparison to diesel buses and biggest benefit of all they are less hard on environment.

Isro, IIT Kharagpur and IIT Madras are already in the process of developing such lithium-ion batteries. These are Retrofit Electric Bus.

Presently, two buses are proposed to be presented for use by Members of Parliament.

The buses will be used to ferry Parliamentarians to and fro from Parliament to their respective destinations.

Gadkari said the government is committed to providing clean air for citizens and will take steps to introduce only eco-friendly vehicles for public transport as one such bus will save the environment from 48,000 kg of CO2.

“I am sure with the increased volumes, Made in India technology buses will be available for retrofit below Rs 40 lakh”.