Sajha Yatayat installs charging facility for its ebuses

Sajha Yatayathas installed a charging station equipped with 24 charging devices with target to recharge its 40 electric buses. The facility is good for charging 24 buses at a time. By operating the facility Sajha Yatayat is fully prepared to operate all electric buses it owns to serve different routes in the Kathmandu Valley. The launching function was organized recently on Tuesday April 9.

Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth inaugurated the charging station. On the occasion, he highlighted that the plan to operate electric buses through Sajha Yatayat, initiated by the KP Oli government four years ago, has now come to reality. Minister Mahaseth stressed the importance of electric transport in promoting environmental cleanliness and reducing trade losses.

Similarly, managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority Kulman Ghising noted that the operating cost of electric vehicles is 10 times cheaper than diesel and petrol vehicles. He expressed confidence that Sajha’s promotion of electric vehicles in mass transportation would soon prove profitable.

Mayor Lalitpur Mertrpolitan City Chiribabu Maharjan assured ongoing support for Sajha Yatayat from the metropolis, indicating that funds have been allocated for the operation of electric buses within the city.

Before bringing in all 40 electric buses, the company had introduced 3 units for experiments and later added 37 units a year ago. The nine-meter-long ebuses with 24 seats can accommodate up to 50 passengers in the peak hours. The added charging facility boasts a total capacity of 1.1 MW, accommodating 24 charging points. Earlier, it had only three operational charging stations.

The transport company has faced operational constraints due to insufficient infrastructure mainly for charging the ebuses, so as only 22 ebuses were operated till the facility added.

Sajha Yatayat is a cooperative bus company committed in providing dignity in public transport, knowing that public health, the environment, the cityscape as well as the national economy all will benefit when the citizens begin to rely on buses rather than private four-wheelers or two-wheelers, it mentions. 

The government had extended financial support of 3 billion rupees to the transport company to operate electric buses. The fund was provided as a share of government in the company. Then Sajha Yatayat decided to spend the sum into three parts. Purchase of 40 electric buses in the first phase, and 24 charging devicesto install.

Sajha Yatayat informed that it has initiated procuring necessary process for 12-meter electric buses through an international tender.