THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC will procure 263 electric buses for SWIFT. It has placed orders for 113 buses that are nine meters in length and 150 buses that are 12 meters long. Buses will be provided for service in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode cities. Now 40 e-buses of SWIFT are operating in Thiruvananthapuram as city circulars. Of the 50 buses ordered, ten more are to be received. KSRTC is planning to run only electric buses in the capital city.

Minister Antony Raju said that the main obstacle to turning buses electric is the lack of swiping stations to change batteries. This facility should be provided at an interval of 50 km. There are many reasons why the number of electric buses is not increasing. There is a delay in getting the e-buses built. More time is required for charging. High prices, shortage of charging stations and concern about battery capacity are also other reasons.