Engineers from IIT working on new design that is fuel efficient.
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses will sport a new look from early next year. Engineers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay are working on the new design, which will make the buses more efficient.
According to Deepak Kapoor, vice-chairman and managing director, MSRTC, the present aluminium buses have pros and cons, but the corporation has decided to modify them with stress on passenger safety. “The present buses are made of aluminium, which makes them very light and fuel efficient. Also, once they are scrapped after 8-10 years, aluminium gets a good price in scrap,” said Kapoor. But, they have their disadvantages as well. “In case of a mishap, aluminium gets cut very easily, thus increasing casualties. Keeping in mind all these aspects, the IIT engineers are modifying the design,” he added.
In the new design, the engineers will use light steel on the front portion of the ST bus. “Though the best in the business — Volvo and Mercedes — use galvanised steel, it increases the cost of the bus. Volvo and Mercedes buses cost a whopping Rs85 lakh as compared to a normal bus which costs us Rs15 lakh,” said Kapoor. “So we are planning to use light steel, which is the best option available.”
According to MSRTC officials, the IIT engineers are taking help from the Bangalore-based Aerospace Design Centre. “This would help the vehicle become more fuel efficient,” added Kapoor.
Meanwhile, the corporation’s air-conditioned Shivneri buses will soon be covered with advertisements of big brands. MSRTC has floated tenders to give its fleet of 82 air-conditioned buses on lease to earn advertising revenue. Of the 82 buses (mostly Volvo, Tata Espano and Mercedes), MSRTC owns 13 buses, while the rest are leased by private operators. “Though all our other buses have advertisements, the air-conditioned buses did not have advertisements. Since these buses carry our premium-class passengers, there is a very big revenue earning opportunity for us and so we have decided to call for tenders,” said Deepak Kapoor, vice-chairman and managing director, MSTRC.
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