The West Bengal government plans to expand its fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric buses as part of efforts to curb pollution, Transport Minister Arjun Singh said on Tuesday. The expansion will focus on increasing the use of cleaner fuels in public transport across the state.

Singh was speaking at the inauguration of a CNG station at the Belgharia depot of the South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC). He said SBSTC had already inducted around 150 CNG buses and that the fleet was expected to grow in the coming years.

The station was jointly established by Bengal Gas Corporation (BGCL) and SBSTC at a cost of Rs. 32.4 mn. It will supply CNG to government and private vehicles, supporting the wider adoption of the fuel in the region.

Officials said the facility would be connected directly to a gas pipeline, allowing it to receive a steady supply of CNG. The arrangement is intended to support reliable refuelling operations for buses and other vehicles using the station.

Singh also highlighted the state government’s focus on green energy and the increased use of CNG-powered buses. SBSTC Managing Director Pranab Ghosh and BGCL Chief Executive Officer Anupam Mukhopadhyay were among those present at the inauguration.

The expansion of the CNG fleet is part of the government’s efforts to promote lower-emission public transport. The minister did not provide a timeline or a specific target for the addition of CNG and electric buses, but indicated that the number of such vehicles would increase in the coming years.