APSRTC officials inspecting the EV charging infrastructure works at Bhogapuram International Airport.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A.P. State Transport Department (Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation) is executing an exhaustive rollout strategy to operate eco-friendly electric AC buses connecting Visakhapatnam city with the upcoming Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) International Airport at Bhogapuram in the neighbouring Vizianagaram district.As part of a Centrally funded scheme, the vehicle manufacturing and operations contract was awarded to Pune-based Pinnacle Mobility Solutions Private Limited, which operates under its electric commercial vehicle brand, EKA Mobility. As per the agreed commercial terms of the tender, the APSRTC will pay approximately ₹65 per km kilometer to the company for operating the fleet.A fresh batch of 20 electric buses is scheduled to begin its journey from the production line in Pune on the night of July 5. Upon arrival in the city, these buses will be stationed at the Gajuwaka and the Vizag Steel City bus depots.After their delivery and mechanical inspection, the APSRTC will commence extensive field trial runs within the coming week to test vehicle performance, battery efficiency, and navigation across the targeted airport corridors.Dual routes for city commutersTo ensure wide regional connectivity, the transport corporation has divided the 20-bus fleet into two operating routes, allocating 10 electric buses to each alignment.Route 1 will run from Gajuwaka to ASR International Airport via NAD Junction, Gurudwara, Maddilapalem, Madhurawada, and Anandapuram Junction. The expected travel time for this direct corridor is clocked at 1 hour and 45 minutes. Operational blueprints reveal that the day’s first bus is scheduled to depart Gajuwaka at 4 a.m., while the final returning bus from Bhogapuram airport terminal will leave at 7 p.m.Route 2 links Gajuwaka to the airport by steering through Scindia, Gnanapuram Junction, VMRDA Park along the Beach Road, Rushikonda, Marikavalasa, and Anandapuram Junction before reaching the terminal.Designed to cover highly populated IT and recreational pockets, this route will feature a total travel time of 2 hours.Charging infrastructureTo address high-voltage power requirements, the authorities have confirmed that three dedicated EV charging points are being readied at ASR International Airport grounds. The infrastructure setup is moving at an accelerated pace, with officials stating that the charging bays will be fully operational within the next three to four days.The transport managers clarified that, for the time being, all 20 incoming electric buses will complete their charging cycles exclusively at the airport terminal's charging stations, ensuring minimal pressure on the city’s existing internal depot grids as trial operations scale up.Affordable faresSpeaking to The Hindu, APSRTC Regional Manager B. Appala Naidu emphasised that public affordability is a core priority for this premium green link.“We are finalising the most affordable fare for passengers to opt for these EV transport services to Bhogapuram airport. The charges will be less than private cabs and will be announced soon,” Mr. Naidu said.He assured that every logistics parameter and transit network layer is being carefully prepared well before the airport officially begins commercial flight operations.Mr. Appala Naidu has indicated that this initial 20-bus corridor project is the prelude to a much larger clean-energy transition across the metropolitan region. Once these initial airport-bound buses become fully operational, the corporation is slated to add 80 electric buses to the city’s fleet to run different routes.This major subsequent expansion will see e-buses blanket core residential and commercial sectors. To sustain this massive fleet, local power networks are being upgraded simultaneously. By the time the second phase arrives, earmarked locations across the city—including Simhachalam and other high-density commuter zones—will be equipped with dedicated high-capacity charging stations. Published - July 04, 2026 07:39 pm IST
