Lumbini’s electric buses to come into operation soon

By Laxman Paudel, Bhairahawa, Aug 11: The electric vehicles that have remained idle in Lumbini for years may finally come into operation.

According to the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), the body in charge of operating the vehicles, preparations are being made to have the five buses and 14 vans ply the roads before Dashain.

The LDT had formed a task force under Treasurer Dhundi Raj Bhattarai on June 2 to formulate an operating procedure for the electric vans and buses. 

Member Secretary Sanuraja Shakya told Rising Nepal that the task force was currently working to iron out the details of how exactly the vehicles be driven around the Buddhist Circuit, where to keep the charging stations, and which model to adopt for running the automobiles.

Bhattarai too said that the task force was looking at multiple issues and would submit a full report and the operating procedure to the Trust’s board by the end of August. He also informed that five buses and five vans were in great condition but the battery of the remaining nine vans was “down” and needed repairing.

“We have told the suppliers about this and have demanded repairs,” he said.

Shakya also informed that the LDT was working to get the vehicles registered in their name. “Even though the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation handed over the vehicles to the Trust, they are still legally under its name. We are working to change that and formalize our ownership of them,” he said.

The registration will also pave the way for the LDT to get proper license plates for the vehicles. Currently, since it is not clear as to who owns the vans and buses and for what purpose they will be used, the Trust has not been able to clarify if they require green, black, red, or any other kind of number plate.

Similarly, Shakya informed that the Trust was also discussing whether to operate the 19 four-wheelers itself or bring in a third party.

Meanwhile, Bhattarai said that the task force was studying the process of getting the 19 four-wheelers insured and was discussing obtaining route permits.

“We will inaugurate the bus and van services before Ghatasthapana,” he also assured.

The vehicles were brought under the Asian Development Bank’s Clean Energy Project at a cost of Rs. 130 million.

The buses can seat 19 people and can accommodate 16 more who would have to stand. They are also air-conditioned and disabled-friendly. When fully charged, they can travel 400 kilometres.