Andhra Pradesh Launches 20 Electric Buses for Vizag-Bhogapuram Airport Connectivity
The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is deploying 20 electric buses to connect Visakhapatnam with the upcoming Alluri Sitharama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district. This initiative is part of a centrally funded scheme aimed at promoting eco-friendly public transport.
The contract for vehicle manufacturing and operations has been awarded to Pune-based Pinnacle Mobility Solutions Private Limited, operating under its electric commercial vehicle brand EKA Mobility. Under the commercial terms of the tender, APSRTC will pay approximately ₹65 per kilometre to the company for operating the fleet.
A fresh batch of these electric buses is scheduled to leave the production line in Pune on the night of July 5. Upon arrival in Visakhapatnam, the buses will be stationed at the Gajuwaka and Vizag Steel City bus depots. After delivery and mechanical inspection, APSRTC will commence extensive field trials within the coming week to test vehicle performance, battery efficiency, and navigation on the airport routes.
To ensure wide regional connectivity, the 20 buses will operate on two routes, with 10 buses allocated to each. Route 1 runs from Gajuwaka to the airport via NAD Junction, Gurudwara, Maddilapalem, Madhurawada, and Anandapuram Junction. The expected travel time is 1 hour and 45 minutes. The first bus will depart Gajuwaka at 4 a.m., and the last returning bus from the airport will leave at 7 p.m.
Route 2 also starts from Gajuwaka but goes through Scindia, Gnanapuram Junction, VMRDA Park along Beach Road, Rushikonda, Marikavalasa, and Anandapuram Junction. This route, covering IT and recreational areas, has a total travel time of 2 hours.
To support these electric buses, three dedicated charging points are being set up at the airport grounds. Officials confirm that the charging bays will be fully operational within the next three to four days. For now, all 20 buses will be charged exclusively at the airport terminal to minimise load on city depots during trial operations.
APSRTC Regional Manager B. Appala Naidu said that passenger affordability is a priority. 'We are finalising the most affordable fare for these electric bus services to Bhogapuram airport. The charges will be less than private cabs and will be announced soon,' he said. He assured that all logistics are being prepared well before the airport officially starts commercial flights.
This initial 20-bus corridor is the first phase of a larger clean-energy transition in the region. Once these buses become fully operational, the corporation plans to add 80 more electric buses to the city fleet for various routes. To sustain this expansion, local power networks are being upgraded, and dedicated high-capacity charging stations will be set up in high-density commuter zones such as Simhachalam.
