Jaipur: Jaipur’s public transport network received a boost Saturday with the launch of 29 new electric buses under the Prime Minister’s e-Bus Sewa Scheme. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma flagged off the buses at Amar Jawan Jyoti and later travelled in one of them to the state hangar to review the onboard facilities. Through video conferencing, he also inaugurated 18 electric buses in Bhilwara.The newly inducted buses in Jaipur are 9-metre-long vehicles. More 9-metre and 12-metre buses are expected to join the fleet in a few months. The buses began operating from Bagrana depot Saturday and will initially run on three routes across the city. The launch comes four months after the buses underwent trial runs in Jaipur on Feb 26. For daily commuters, the addition is expected to improve the availability of public transport while offering a cleaner alternative to conventional fuel-powered vehicles.
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma flags off the new fleet of state-of-the-art EKA electric buses in Jaipur under the PM-eBus Sewa scheme. Say hello to zero emissions, enhanced safety, and smoother city commutes
Addressing the gathering, Sharma said the Prime Minister’s e-Bus Sewa Scheme, launched in Aug 2023 , aims to promote clean and sustainable urban mobility. He said the Centre is supporting states in developing bus depots, electric charging infrastructure and operational facilities under the scheme.CM said Rajasthan is set to receive 1,150 electric buses. Of these, 675 have been sanctioned for Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota, Bikaner, Bhilwara, Alwar and Ajmer, while another 475 buses have been approved additionally. The state govt aims to roll out the first batch of 675 buses by Diwali.The new buses are equipped with CCTV cameras, panic buttons, air-conditioning systems and other safety features, with special attention to the needs of women, students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Sharma also announced that the state plans to introduce 555 more electric buses and 50 double-decker electric buses to strengthen urban transport and promote tourism.
