State-owned Coal India Limited (CIL) on Friday said it has extended financial assistance of Rs.15 crore to Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) to purchase three electric buses and an electric car.
 
 "While CIL contributed the capital cost of the buses, HIDCO – owned by the West Bengal government – would bear the maintenance and operational expenses of these electrically operated vehicles," the coal miner said in a statement.
 
 The buses will be plying in the Rajarhat area near Kolkata to facilitate the movement of people in a "pollution free manner".
 
 "The car basically is for maintenance and upkeep of the buses," it said.
 
 "The suggestion came from HIDCO," CIL chairman Sutirtha Bhattacharya said, adding "as a corporate citizen we have agreed".
 
 The Maharatna miner recen