A large number of buses, minibuses and vans in Iran’s public transportation fleet are worn-out, but the bodies in charge have failed to revamp this fleet.
The process of modernization has been extremely slow in recent years, as officials and institutions concerned announce that projects are in the pipeline to get rid of the worn-out passenger fleet but the momentum has been missing, Donyaye Khodro reported.
In the past 12 years, no effective initiative has been taken for bus modernization, even though more than 80% of the buses are reportedly decrepit and their use imposes heavy costs on the government.
The Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade had announced that 8,000 to 10,000 new buses would be supplied under a contract to reduce the high fuel consumption in decrepit vehicles and cut air pollution.
According to the ministry, the share of public transportation in the country is 33%, which should be increased to 45%.
Some 12,000 vans are plying the country’s roads, all of which are over 13 years old, so a contract has been signed for renovating 5,000 vehicles.
Over 90% of minibuses are worn-out and a modernization program for 8,000 buses and 5,000 minibuses has been placed on the agenda.
Bahram Nikahi, the CEO of Tehran Bus Company, has promised to renovate 1,400 buses by the end of the year, adding that 550 new buses will join the public transportation fleet.
He announced that the Industries Ministry has promised to deliver 250 buses to Tehran’s municipality and noted that the modernization of bus fleet will not be possible without the cooperation of car manufacturers.
“On the one hand, last year Iran Khodro Diesel, as the country's largest commercial manufacturer, resumed its activity in the field of bus production after 10 years and was able to conclude contracts to produce and supply parts of the fleet's need for new buses,” he said.
“On the other hand, manufacturers such as SNA and Oghab Afshan have not halted their activities during this period and are taking effective steps to meet the needs of transportation fleet.”
In the sixth month of the current Iranian year, SNA delivered 100 buses to the Tabriz fleet and plans to supply 900 buses for public transportation
Iran Khodro Diesel has committed to deliver 2,500 buses to the Industries Ministry through an 18-month contract.
Bus Fleet to Swell in Tehran, 3,000 More to Hit the Roads
Tehran’s worn-out bus fleet will be replaced by new vehicles, increasing the total number of buses in this metropolis to 5,000.
Tehran’s Mayor Alireza Zakani has announced that in the current fiscal year (started March 21), a 150% jump will increase the bus fleet from around 2,000 to 5,000, Donyaye Khodro reported.
“We are committed to carry out the renovation and have received the permit for it. This renovation will either be done through imports, or we will supply the buses through domestic producers," he added.
Tehran’s Deputy Mayor Mojtaba Shafiei recently stated that the dilapidation of bus fleet after just a decade is due to population density, the long distances traversed by buses and the subsequent wear and tear, hence bus renovation was placed on the agenda.
"As per the plans, 1,400 buses will be overhauled this year, the budget of which was earmarked by the city council for Tehran, and we have requested the executive works," he said.
"The overhaul of these buses will create a big change in the field of bus transportation. About 1,600 buses have been planned for Tehran from oil exports, which will create a big opening in the field of bus supply."
Shafiei noted that as part of the supply contract, 2,000 buses will be supplied by domestic producers nationwide, of which 900 have been earmarked for Tehran.
With the advancement of technology around the world and the promotion of automotive electrification to reduce pollutants, calls for using electric buses intensified in many advanced countries.
In the last two years, the country's bus manufacturers have launched initiatives for designing and producing electric buses, such that some of these electric products were unveiled last year in the first post-coronavirus exhibition.
In the same vein, people hope measures will be taken to replace worn-out models with electric buses. At present, a contract has been prepared for employing 50 electric buses in Tehran.
Regardless of whether the infrastructure for these cars is ready, this small step can be considered the inception of automotive electrification in Tehran, provided it is supported by the government and related organizations.
