Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Goa’s Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) has decided to deploy ten new Electric Vehicles (EVs) for the upcoming G20 meetings in Goa. This comes as part of the Goa government’s commitment to promote sustainable transportation options in the state.
The government is currently in the procurement stage of 48 new electric vehicles (EVs) for operation under the Smart City project in Panaji. From this lot, KTC plans to use ten electric buses to serve delegates of the upcoming G20 meetings in Goa starting from April 17.
The electric mini-buses being deployed by KTC for the G20 meetings in Goa have been procured under the FAME-II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles in India) scheme. Interestingly, the automatic fare collection system will enable passengers to pay for their tickets electronically through a QR code, without the need for a conductor. The use of advanced technology such as the integration of Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS), GPS tracking and other features will also allow the passengers to track the location of the bus in real-time, choose the optimal route, and plan trips. Furthermore, passengers will be able to access real-time information such as bus details, vehicle location, expected time of arrival, and travel duration on their smartphones. The LED displays on the buses that flash pick-up and drop points, and the displays on the smart bus stops that show the timings of the EVs, will also help passengers plan their trips more efficiently.
Transport Director Rajan Satardekar had expressed the government’s willingness to ensure a smooth flow of movement during the course of the meetings. “The G20 Summit is a prestigious event and deploying the EVs will add value to it. The government is keen to host the delegates in a nice manner and there is no better way to do that than using EVs instead of several small vehicles,” he said. Satardekar revealed plans of the government to also deploy some buses on the intercity route.
KTC General Manager, Derek Pereira Neto revealed that special permission has been granted to KTC to operate the electric mini-buses for the G20 Summit in the state. “The vehicles will then directly be used for the Smart City project by July, since the deadline for the completion of works is June 30” he said. The arrival of the additional 38 electric buses in June this year will provide citizens with even more efficient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional vehicles.
The eight scheduled G20 meetings will be held in Goa at two starred hotels – Grand Hyatt Goa and Taj Resort & Convention Centre, Goa. The Group of Twenty or G20, is the premier forum for international cooperation comprising of the world’s most-powerful 19 economies and the EU. The G20 group was established with the goal to solve major global issues which are related to the stability of International Finance, the international economy, migration due to changes in climatic conditions, and sustainable development. Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Republic of South Africa, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, and the European Union (EU) form the G20 group. Representatives from guest countries and international organisations have also been invited to attend the Summit.
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