KSRTC opts for bio fuels as oil price rises

The rising price of fuel, coupled with the obligation to not to put an onerous burden on the public, has prompted Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to explore the option of using bio fuels and alternative energy ources to run its large fleet of 5,300 buses.

"KSRTC primarily aims at providing transport solutions to the common man at affordable price. We cannot hike fares as and when the price of oil increases in the international market. So as a cost cutting measure, we intend to run a substantial portion of our bus fleet on bio-fuels in the coming months," a senior KSRTC official told Business Standard here.

In the last one year there has been a hike in the price of oil three times. But KSRTC has not hiked bus fares correspondingly, fearing public criticism.

"The delay in hiking fares is resulting in a combined monthly loss of Rs 78 crore to all the Karnataka state transport undertakings (STUs). But we cannot sustain such losses for a longer period," the official eplained.

The STUs, which are bearing the brunt include KSRTC, North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation and the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation. The combined fleet strength of all the four STUs is 16,600.

Recently, the heads of all STUs, entrusted KSRTC with the task of experimenting with bio fuels. "The KSRTC is already running 80 buses on bio fuel. The success of this programme has encouraged us to bring more buses under bio fuels. Within three months, another 600 buses will be shifted to bio fuels," the official stated.

Honge oil (pongamia oil) is among the most cost effective and non-polluting substitutes for petroleum products. Bio fuel is used in combination with diesel in the ratio of 90:10 (diesel:honge oil). "According to our studies, the savings for 5,323.82 kms covered by a bus every year is Rs 22.89 lakh. Thus, last year, we saved Rs 13.73 crore by running 80 buses on this bio-fuel," the official pointed out.

Karnataka is one of the states where pongamia trees grow in the wild. The oil is extracted from its pods and is considered the poor man?s fuel. Traditionally, in villages, the oil is used for burning lamps. "Procurement of the oil is not at all a problem. Production of pongamia oil is reserved for small scale industries (SSI) sector. It is easily available at affordable rates," the official stated.

Buoyed by this success, KSRTC is experimenting with other alternative bio fuels like ethanol. The use of ethanol as an alternative fuel in the public transport system is predominant in Brazil. A KSRTC study group is looking into Brazilian practices where ethanol is widely used.

"A part of the sugar production can be converted into alcohol (ethanol) in special distilleries. The anhydrous alcohol thus produced can be blended with diesel in proportion of up to 24 per cent. Karnataka being the fourth largest producer of sugar in the country can meet the requirements of the bio fuel programme," the KSRTC official pointed out.

A bus running on ethanol will be introduced on a pilot basis in two months.