500 electric buses for India - KfW supports the modernisation of public transport systems

Frankfurt am Main (ots) -

- EUR 200 million for energy-efficient public transport
- Digitalisation of the bus sector
- Considerable reduction of carbon emissions
- Integrated traffic concepts with great advantages for poor
population Groups

On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development (BMZ), KfW has signed a financing agreement with the
Indian Ministry of Finance for a EUR 200 million reduced-interest
loan to modernise public transport in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu.
The project includes the use of 500 battery-powered electric buses,
the replacement of 2,000 old diesel buses with more energy-efficient
models, the introduction of cashless payment systems and the
introduction of IT to increase the efficiency of operation and
maintenance in the cities of Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai.

Modernising the expansion of the bus fleet will reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, particulate matter and road noise, while at the same
time significantly increasing the attractiveness of public transport.
In addition to an increased use of public transport - especially by
poorer population groups - a decline in the high number of road
deaths can also be expected.

"These investments, and in particular the digitalisation of the
bus sector, represent a major innovation boost, helping to reduce the
high level of pollution in Indian cities and to alleviate the traffic
situation, which has been aggravated by the increasing motorisation
of the population", said Professor Joachim Nagel, Member of the
Executive Board at KfW Group.

The regional state transportation company (TNSTC) offers its
services in all major cities of Tamil Nadu and, with a bus fleet of
more than 21,000 diesel buses and 18 million passengers transported
per day, is one of the world's largest bus companies. As part of the
planned investments, TNSTC will also be supported in the use of new
technologies, line and network planning, operational management and
maintenance management.

Information about KfW Development Bank can be found at
http://ots.de/PPM1TN.

Contact:
KfW, Palmengartenstr. 5 - 9, 60325 Frankfurt
Kommunikation (KOM)
Dr. Charis Pöthig
Tel. +49 (0)69 7431 4683, Fax: +49 (0)69 7431 3266,
E-Mail: Charis.Poethig@kfw.de, Internet: www.kfw.de

Original-Content von: KfW, übermittelt durch news aktuell