Eco-Friendly Travel Boost: e-RT System to be Launched in Hubballi-Dharwad Soon

Bengaluru: In a significant move towards advancing eco-friendly urban mobility, the Karnataka government on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Swiss-based HESS AG, its Indian subsidiary HESS INDIA, and SSB AG to launch a pilot Electric Rapid Transit (e-RT) project between Hubballi and Dharwad.

The MoU was signed during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Kaveri office, with several senior ministers and representatives from the partnering firms in attendance. The Chief Minister instructed officials to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) within the next three months to facilitate early implementation of the project.

Described as a metro-style electric transport system, the e-RT initiative is designed to run on a combination of elevated and ground-level corridors, with each transit unit capable of accommodating 250 passengers per trip. Feasibility studies for the project have been underway for over a year, assessing technical, environmental, and operational aspects.

Speaking at the meeting, CM Siddaramaiah emphasized the project's potential to transform public transport in the twin cities by offering an efficient, sustainable, and congestion-free commute. He also noted that if the pilot proves successful, the model could be replicated in other tier-2 cities across Karnataka.

Company representatives highlighted that similar electric rapid transit systems have already been successfully implemented across various European nations, showcasing both reliability and efficiency.

The meeting was attended by key cabinet members, including Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Labour Minister Santosh Lad, Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty, and Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh. Representatives from HESS AG and SSB AG, including Susan von Sury, Yves Siegrist, Burak Sencer, and Francois Paetzold, were also present.

Labour Minister Santosh Lad, who had recently visited Switzerland to study the viability and operational success of such electric transit models, expressed confidence in the project’s ability to modernize Karnataka’s public transport landscape.