Tata Motors to supply hybrid buses

Students of Shree Samarth Vyayam Mandir perform rope mallakhamb at the Make In India venue at Bandra Kurla Complex on Wednesday. (Photo: Shripad Naik)

Tata Motors is set to supply 25 hybrid buses powered by battery and diesel for ferrying people to and from the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), the first of its kind in India. The automobile manufacturer, which has received a letter of intent from with the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) will be inking the final agreement within 2-3 days. The value of the contract is estimated to be around Rs 50 crore with each bus costing just over Rs 2 crore.

“We have received the letter of intent and we’re about to sign an agreement, which will confirm the order. The contract is likely to be signed in 2-3 days and the pricing details are still being negotiated. In an earlier bid, we had put a price tag of Rs 2 crore per such bus,” said Ravi Pisharody, executive director, commercial vehicles at Tata Motors.

While speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Make in India Week, Mr Pisharody said this project is the first of its kind in the entire country as its earlier effort to negotiate a similar deal with the authorities in Bengaluru failed due to difficulties on the financial front.

“The central government provides a subsidy of just 35 per cent. Here, the MMRDA is able to implement this as it is taking financial support from both the Centre and the state,” he added.

Mr Pisharody also said that his company is eyeing huge opportunities in the defence sector where the government is now encouraging private sector participation in a big way. “We have a strong pipeline of products for the defence sector. They are currently undergoing trials like the desert trial and extreme winter trial,” he said and added that his company has submitted bids for the supply of Future Infantry Combat Vehicles for the Indian army.