Govt plans to operate hydrogen buses in capital city | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: In an effort towards sustainable public transportation, state govt is likely to introduce hydrogen-powered buses in the capital city, marking a pioneering step in its commitment to clean energy initiatives.Housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra announced that the department has signed an agreement with a leading green energy company to launch a trial run of hydrogen buses in Bhubaneswar. The initial phase will see three hydrogen-powered buses operating on various routes across the city. “We are starting with three buses in Bhubaneswar as a pilot project. A dedicated depot will be constructed to support the operations,” Mahapatra told reporters on Saturday.He said that based on the success of the pilot plan, govt will plan to expand the service to other parts of the state. “The buses will be plying on different routes of the city soon and will provide a sustainable public transport option to riders,” Mahapatra said.India’s first green hydrogen fuel cell bus was showcased during the inaugural ceremony of India Energy Week, which was held in Goa in Feb last year. Later in Oct, housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri demonstrated the hydrogen bus fleet in New Delhi.The introduction of hydrogen buses aligns with Bhubaneswar’s existing green public transport infrastructure, which already includes approximately 100 electric buses, including four double-decker e-buses operated by the Capital Region Urban Transport (Crut).A senior official of the housing and urban development department emphasised the initiative’s significance in achieving net-zero emission targets. “Implementing clean energy practices in public transport can provide a substantial breakthrough in our environmental goals,” the official said.Bhubaneswar’s public transport system has witnessed remarkable evolution since 2018, starting with the introduction of Mo Bus, now rebranded as Ama Bus. The network currently serves the tri-city area of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri.Commuters welcomed the Saturday’s announcement. “The public transport system in Bhubaneswar has shown impressive improvement over the years. The addition of hydrogen buses could be another milestone in the journey,” said Jyoti Dash, a frequent Ama Bus user.
