LUCKNOW, April 2 -- The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) on Wednesday added 250 electric and CNG vehicles to its fleet, bringing its eco-friendly vehicle strength to nearly 1,000. The move aims to slash fuel expenses and improve waste collection across the city. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off the vehicles, which includes units from private contractors already engaged in door-to-door waste collection for the civic body. The two private agencies, one managing five zones, the other three zones, will operate the new vehicles alongside their existing fleets. The expansion addresses a pressing problem: the LMC's reliance on roughly 450 diesel-powered vehicles for secondary operations such as silt removal and waste transport. These trucks consume about 8,500 litres of diesel daily, draining Rs 7.44 lakh from the corporation's coffers each day. The civic body has halted procurement of diesel vehicles and is investing entirely in electric and CNG alternatives. The LMC has already added four CNG vehicles to its internal fleet as part of this shift. "The addition of 250 vehicles will enhance operational efficiency and widen coverage," said Manoj Prabhat, chief engineer (mechanical and electrical) at the LMC. The expansion is expected to plug gaps in newly added zones while maintaining consistent waste collection across the city....