CNG buses to hit the streets after polls,filling depot used for poll work

Vice-chairman and managing director of MSRTC Om Prakash Gupta said 12 buses were ready for the Pimpri-Chinchwad area and would be put on the roads post polls.

He said the service will first start in Pimpri-Chinchwad followed by Pune with 40 buses. CNG buses are being planned for the city to curb pollution as CNG is an environment-friendly gas compared to diesel,Gupta said.

Shyam Sunder,managing director of the Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL),said they had started supplying CNG from August 15 but were asked to discontinue due to Assembly elections.

“The depot houses an office which will be used for election duties. We have been asked to discontinue the supply till the election process is over,” he said.

The buses will be parked at Vallabh Nagar bus stand which is one km from the stand. “Now,we will have to wait with the model code of conduct being enforced,” said Sunder,who is also keeping the option open to use Chikhli-Moshi fuelling station.

While Mumbai and Pune will be the first cities to have the CNG buses,the move be replicated in other parts of the state gradually,said Gupta.