Diesel out, CNG in: KSRTC to test-drive conversion of old buses

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is planning to convert old diesel buses nearing the end of their service life into CNG-powered vehicles, with an initial target of 100 buses. The corporation plans to expand the programme to 500 buses if the first phase proves successful.

A private company had approached KSRTC with an offer to convert buses that have completed 10 years of service to CNG free of cost. The company had also offered to take responsibility for their maintenance for 15 years. KSRTC had objected to the amount proposed by the company for the arrangement, saying it was too high. The company has since agreed to reconsider the charges. Another leading company that had initially shown interest in implementing the project later withdrew after KSRTC insisted that buses that had completed 15 years of service should also be converted.

The company reportedly told KSRTC that converting buses that had already crossed their service life would become a liability.
The proposal comes amid efforts to explore the feasibility of running older buses on CNG. A similar conversion programme is already under way in Tamil Nadu, where 1,000 diesel buses are being converted to CNG through three companies.

According to the information available to KSRTC, converted buses can deliver a mileage of around 5.5 to 6 km per kg of CNG, compared with 3 to 4 km for older diesel buses. The conversion is also considered relatively inexpensive.
The companies involved in the Tamil Nadu project are supplying CNG at Rs 6 per kg below the prevailing market price and have offered the same rate to KSRTC.
The corporation can also facilitate the setting up of CNG filling stations on its own premises.