Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I read a Facebook post from the hon. Prayag of last Saturday afternoon, that is three days ago, thanking me and the NTC for the addition of nine electric buses to operate from the Rivière du Rempart depot. From the photo I saw, he even visited the buses at the depot. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have to mention that we could afford to send these nine new electric buses, which in real terms cost more than Rs100 million, because they came to us from a fleet of 100 buses evaluated at more than a billion rupees, generously donated by the Government of India to the Government of Mauritius in five batches, the last one of which was delivered on 08 April 2026, last month. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have to mention that even before the final handing over of the e-buses by His Excellency Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister to the Republic of India on Friday 09 April 2026, a large number of e-buses were already in operation and the number increased with each passing week to reach 90 buses today, out of the 100 electric buses. The spreading out of these buses among the various depots of the NTC are as follows – • 21 at Remy Ollier Depot; • 41 from La Tour Koenig Depot; • 19 from Forest Side Depot, and • 9 from Rivière du Rempart Depot which I just mentioned. These buses are already providing services along 10 routes which ply from Remy Ollier Depot, 13 routes from La Tour Koenig Depot, 6 routes from Forest Side Depot and 4 routes from Rivière du Rempart Depot. The deployment of the 10 remaining electric buses will continue under a phased hybrid model combining both diesel and e-buses to ensure optimal service. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed that all the 100 e-buses will be fully operational by June 2026, meaning next month. In regard to part (b) of the question, I have to point out that the Government of the Republic of India has donated 20 electric chargers along with the 100 e-buses. Two chargers have already been installed at Remy Ollier Depot and seven at La Tour Koenig Depot. Two additional chargers are currently being installed by the Indian Authorities at La Tour Koenig. The installation works are nearing completion and will most probably be completed this week. I am given to understand that the remaining chargers would be installed at the Forest Side Depot by the end of June 2026, next month. And with this, the operationalisation of the 100 electric buses will be completed.

Yes!

Thank you, hon. Minister. Is the Ministry considering to train all staff, I mean, mechanical repair staff for different depots to be able to repair these electric buses in their own depots, minor repairs if in case if they break down?

I am given to understand that training is ongoing and also capacity building is being done by the Indian side as well.

Thank you. The hon. Third Member for Flacq and Bon Accueil. FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT – DIRECTOR – CONTRACT