Public transport in Patna. Photograph: iStock The Patna Municipal Company (PMC) has determined to exchange diesel-run automobiles with compressed pure fuel (CNG) ones and won’t buy new diesel-run automobiles anymore for its sanitation work, based on officers.
This will likely be one other optimistic improvement to make sure diesel-free automobiles on Patna’s roads. The state authorities had determined in 2019 to ban diesel automobiles from the Bihar capital’s roads as a way to test rising air air pollution. However its full implementation was delayed as a result of official apathy.
PMC commissioner Animesh Kr Parashar confirmed that each one diesel-run automobiles of PMC will likely be changed by CNG automobiles. “We are going to do it in phases. There will likely be no diesel-run automobiles of PMC on the roads quickly,” he advised this reporter.
Parashar mentioned PMC won’t buy new diesel-run automobiles and can use CNG automobiles. “All previous diesel-run automobiles of PMC will likely be changed by CNG. We are going to solely use CNG-run automobiles. This may strengthen the struggle towards air air pollution and assist cut back emissions,” he added.
In line with a senior PMC official, about 100 previous diesel-run auto-tippers will likely be changed by CNG within the first section. This may finish an period of diesel-run auto-tippers, which had been in use for years.
PMC will substitute heavy diesel-run automobiles together with vans carrying rubbish and compactors with CNG. Equally, diesel-run highly effective machines like Poklen, JCBs and Bobcats will likely be changed by CNG.
“The method has begun and work is in progress to exchange diesel-run automobiles and machines with CNG,” the official mentioned.
Parashar revealed that PMC is planning to introduce electrical automobiles and machines as properly for cleansing work in Patna. After CNG, the city native physique’s principal thrust will likely be to extend electrical automobiles and machines for pollution-free cleansing and sanitation work.
As of now, PMC has been utilizing almost 1,000 diesel-run automobiles for various works together with dumping rubbish, carrying filth, cleansing and sanitation work. “It’s going to take a while to exchange these automobiles with CNG in a phase-wise method,” Parashar mentioned.
The state transport division has already phased out all diesel-run auto-rickshaws from Patna roads. Final 12 months, the division banned the plying of diesel-run autos and changed them with CNG.
Just lately, the federal government introduced plans to ban diesel-run buses (city bus) in Patna and its adjoining city areas from October 1, 2023.
There are greater than 250 diesel-run buses in Patna and the neighbouring semi-urban areas of Danapur, Khagaul and Phulwari Sharif.
The federal government has additionally invited purposes for offering subsidy beneath the clear power scheme to personal bus house owners for changing their diesel buses to CNG.
“The division has inspired house owners of personal diesel buses, together with mini buses, to transform to CNG. It’s going to present a subsidy to them to buy new CNG buses. However they must declare their diesel-run bus as scrap,” an official of the division mentioned.
A complete of 161 CNG buses are working within the state, based on division knowledge.
There are almost two dozen CNG filling stations in Patna as of now. Authorities officers mentioned the quantity will double by subsequent 12 months
Patna’s air high quality index has turn out to be ‘very poor’ in recent times. Specialists and the Bihar State Air pollution Management Board have emphasised that air high quality in Patna has deteriorated as a result of vehicular emissions, together with different issues.
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