Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has received a directive from the Andhra Pradesh state government to ensure that at least one-third of the 6,000 buses which it intends to purchase over the next 36 months operate on compressed natural gas (CNG), reports The Times of India.
Reduced fuel expenditure, reduced maintenance costs and reduced emissions are cited as advantages of a CNG fleet by transport minister Botsa Satayanarayana. Presently, less than 100 CNG buses are being run in the state, most of them in Vijayawada. Cost savings could reportedly be in the range of 17% to 23%.
Two filling stations are available now. The report says the government has directed APSRTC to prepare a detailed proposal to establish CNG stations in as many depots as possible.
