The state government is in the process of procuring 48 brand-new electric cars (EVs) for the Panaji Smart City project in the latter half of this year. Prior to that, 10 of these vehicles will be operated by Kadamba Transport Company (KTC) and will serve agents of the upcoming G20 conferences in Goa, beginning April 17.
These vehicles were purchased through the Distinction (Quick Reception and Assembling of Mixture and Electric Vehicles in India)- II Plan. These 7- and 9-meter minibuses will not require conductors to operate.
According to reports, Rajan Satardekar, KTC’s transportation director, claimed, “Deploying the EVs by KTC will add value to the G20 Summit, which is a prestigious event.”
“The government is eager to host the delegates in a pleasant manner, and there is no better way to do so than by using EVs instead of several small vehicles,” he explained.
The eight G20 meetings scheduled for Goa would be held in two starred hotels on the outskirts of Panaji.
“We have received special permission to operate these buses for the G20 Summit,” said KTC general manager Derek Pereira Neto. Because the project’s completion date is June 30, the vehicles will be directly deployed for the Smart City project by July,” he said.
The remaining 38 buses are expected to arrive in the state by June.
These electric cars will be linked to smart bus stops established throughout Panaji and its surroundings. The bus pick-up and drop-off locations will be displayed on LED screens, as will the EV timings on smart bus stops.
