Ahmedabad: The city will soon see more double-decker buses plying on its roads, as the Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) has invited tenders for the purchase of four ready-built double-decker Type-II AC electric buses.

The procurement includes two specialised chargers and a 10-year Comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (CAMC), or up to 10 lakh kilometres, whichever comes first. Under the agreement, the selected operator will be responsible for the daily upkeep, cleaning, and technical maintenance of the fleet to ensure high standards of safety and reliability.

Key features of the new fleet:

Electric propulsion: The buses will run on high-capacity Li-ion or Li-ion phosphate batteries.

Operating range: Designed for urban efficiency, the vehicles will have a minimum range of 120 km on a single charge (at 80% state of charge) while running full air conditioning.

Safety & technology: Each bus will be equipped with five CCTV cameras with 48-hour backup, panic buttons, and an integrated Passenger Information System (PIS).

Passenger comfort: The double-decker design will adhere to safety and comfort standards, featuring power-operated doors and accessibility features for passengers with disabilities.

Notably, AMTS reintroduced double-decker buses in Ahmedabad in February 2024 after a gap of three decades. The transport arm of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation intends to deploy these new buses on scheduled routes across the city and adjoining areas.