Mysore/Mysuru: In place of the phased-out Volvo fleet, Mysuru city is set to welcome eco-friendly electric (EV) buses that promise a similar level of comfort and quality in public transport. KSRTC has requested 100 electric buses, which are expected to arrive early next year.

The Union Government has already announced allocation of 750 air-conditioned electric buses to Karnataka under the PM-eBus Seva scheme, of which Mysuru is likely to receive around 100 buses.

To support the new fleet, a vast KSRTC bus depot is under construction at Bannimantap, with dedicated facilities for electric buses, including charging stations and other essential infrastructure. Once the depot is completed, the Government is expected to allocate the electric buses to Mysuru, said H.T. Veeresh, Divisional Controller of KSRTC’s Mysuru City Division.

“At present, KSRTC Rural Division operates 14 EV buses with only two charging points. This infrastructure   will be inadequate to support the proposed fleet of 100 buses. The responsibility for installing additional charging stations has been entrusted to Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC),” he said.

After the new depot is completed, CESC will install the required charging facilities and hand them over to KSRTC.