Twenty-five new electric buses were inducted into Chandigarh’s public transport fleet on Saturday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagging them off from Guwahati under the PM e-Bus Service initiative.
The new buses will operate on local routes across the city, taking the total number of electric buses in Chandigarh to 105. At present, 80 e-buses are already in service, and officials said another 75 are expected to be added by April-May.
The newly launched buses will ply on the following routes:
Route 22: ISBT-43 to IT Park
Route 30A: ISBT-43 to Cantonment
Route 240: ISBT-43 to Mata Mansa Devi (via Sector 43/44 and Kisan Bhawan Road)
Route 241: ISBT-43 to Mata Mansa Devi (via Sector 52/53 and YPS Chowk)
A programme was also held at the Sector 43 bus stand in Chandigarh during the virtual flag-off ceremony, attended by senior officials of the Chandigarh Administration.
The 15-metre-long air-conditioned buses are designed to be accessible and commuter-friendly. Each bus has a seating capacity of 36 passengers, including space for one wheelchair, and standing room for 20 passengers.
Key features include front and rear air suspension, front disc brakes, digital display boards, voice-based next-stop announcements and a push-button stop request system. The buses are equipped with CCTV cameras, emergency buttons and a low-floor design with a floor height of just 400 mm. An automatic ramp has been installed to facilitate access for persons with disabilities.
Officials said the buses can run up to 224 kilometres on a single charge.
UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria said the administration aims to phase out all diesel buses and replace them with electric buses by the financial year 2027-28. He added that efforts are being made to ensure bus availability every 15 minutes on high-traffic routes.
The expansion of the electric fleet is part of Chandigarh’s broader push toward sustainable, environmentally friendly public transportation.