THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State government is reluctant to accept the central government's offer to rent 950 new E-buses to KSRTC, which is running at a loss with expired buses. Centre will bear 40.7 percent of the rent. KSRTC will have to bear only the remaining rent and conductor's expenses. KSRTC will get to keep the revenue generated. No consent has yet been given to the proposal despite receiving notification in April. Many states have expressed their interest.

The bus will be available on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model under the Pradhan Mantri E-Bus Sewa scheme. Especially with Lok Sabha elections around the corner, the state government suspects that BJP will use e-buses to their advantage just as they took advantage of the Vande Bharat trains. It is alleged that the government is evading to avoid that situation. BJP is highlighting through social media that 100 bus centres have been allotted to Thrissur.

'Pradhan Mantri E-Bus Sewa' is an initiative to deploy 10,000 electric buses across the country to promote green energy. 57,613 crore will be spent. Buses will be deployed in 169 cities. Infrastructure will also be upgraded in 181 cities under the Green Urban Mobility Initiative. Around 4000 people will get employment in Kerala. Out of 1800 super class buses of KSRTC, 1641 have expired.

Where will these busses run

Kochi and Kozhikode cities will get 150 buses each, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kannur cities will get 100 buses each and Cherthala, Kayamkulam and Kottayam cities will get 50 buses each in the first phase.

Rent of rupees 54 per km

• The buses can run up to 350 km on a single charge. The rent is Rs 54 per km. Rs 22 will be provided by the Centre. Kerala should bear the rest.
• The private company that provides the bus will hire and pay the driver. They will also bear the expenses like charging, taxes and insurance. KSRTC's only responsibility will be appointing and paying the conductors. Conductor's wages are Rs 8 per km.

Advantage for KSRTC

About two thousand people will retire from KSRTC within two years. New appointments can be made to these buses. 25 crore per month in diesel cost savings.

KIIFB sanctioned a loan of Rs 181 crore to KSRTC to buy buses but the money was not available. The government announced that it would pay 75 crores, but that too has not been made available. Still, the state government is reluctant to accept the 950 buses that the centre said it would provide without any investment.