Mumbai, March 19:  The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has launched a fleet of 25 Hybrid AC Electric Buses in Mumbai on Friday, March 16. The step is seen as an attempt to move towards reducing pollution and adopting electric car facility to provide road map for future mode of transportation in Mumbai.

According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, the Hybrid Electric Buses will run on new routes first between Bandra Kurla Complex, Thane, Mulund, Kharghar, Sion, Borivali and Navi Mumbai. MMRDA has announced that the minimum fare is Rs 16 and maximum is Rs 126.

The buses are hybrid as they can run on dual power - diesel and electric, the buses are also equipped with internet facility such as free WiFi  and boast of  safety features for the passengers which include CCTV cameras, and entertainment options like LED display.

The routes of the buses which have started running from March 16 on Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) are:

BKC 21 from BKC Railway Terminus to Diamond Market from 9am to 7 pm. Number of buses 4, maximum fare Rs 26 and minimum Rs 16.

BKC 22 from Kurla station West to MMRDA Pay and Park from 9am to 7pm. Number of buses 7, maximum fare Rs 26 and minimum fare Rs 16.

BKC 23 from Bandra terminus to CA Institute, 9am to 7PM, 9am to 7pm. Number of buses 4.

BKC 24 from Rani Laxmi Bai Chowk (Sion Circle) to BKC via Dharavi, 9am to 7pm. Number of buses 4.

BKC 25 from Rani Laxmi Bai Chowk (Sion Circle) to BKC via LBS Marg. 9am to 7pm. Number of buses 4.

Beginning from March 19, MMRDA has said that similar buses will run on longer routes from BKC to Borivali, Hiranandani Estate Thane, Maharana Pratap Chowk (Mulund) and Jalvayu Vihar (Kharghar):

BKC 10 from Borivali Railway station East to BKC Telephone Exchange , the buses will ply from 7.30am to 8.30am with 15 minutes gap. There will also be return bus facility on this route from 6pm to 7pm. The maximum fare will be Rs 94 and minimum Rs 16.

BKC 11 from Hiranandani Estate Thane to MMRDA, Family Court, the buses will ply from 7.30am to 8.15am with a gap of 15 minutes. Return buses on this route will be available from 6pm to 7pm.

BKC 12 Jalvayu Vihar (Kharghar)to MMRDA Family Court, buses will ply from 7.30am to 8.15am with a gap of 15 minutes. Return buses on this route will be available from 6pm to 7pm. Maximum fare for the same will be Rs 110 and minimum Rs 16.

BKC 13 Maharana Pratap Chowk (Mulund) to MMRDA Family Court, buses will ply from 7.30am to 8.15am with a gap of 15 minutes gap. Return buses on this route will be available from 6pm to 7pm. Maximum fare will Rs 63 and minimum Rs 16.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was present at the event and launched the buses. The buses have been granted under the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan-2020. Union Minister for Heavy Industries Anant G Geete was also present during the launching.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 19, 2018 12:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).