Sixteen CNG buses resume service in Bhopal:After 300 buses halted over 18 months, commuters to get partial relief on Chirayu-AIIMS route

After more than a year of disrupted public transport, Bhopal residents can finally expect some relief. Sixteen CNG city buses have resumed service between Chirayu Hospital and AIIMS from Monday, marking a small but significant step toward restoring the city’s bus network. 300 buses stopped in 18 months due to disputes Just a year and a half ago, 368 city buses operated across Bhopal. However, disagreements over taxes, ticket collection, and coordination with the municipal corporation led to most operators withdrawing their services. As a result, over 300 buses went off the roads, severely affecting daily commuters. On Monday, the Bhopal City Link Limited (BCLL) restarted operations on route TR-4, deploying 16 CNG buses between Chirayu Hospital and AIIMS.
The buses will run from 6 AM to 10 PM, with each bus carrying 250–300 passengers on average. Municipal Commissioner Sanskriti Jain confirmed that the buses will now operate regularly on this route. Ticket dispute led to suspension of services Bhopal’s public transport system has faced long-standing issues. Bus operators stopped services following a dispute over ticket collection, penalties, and pending court cases. The issue was even raised in the state assembly by MLA Rameshwar Sharma. Previously, four private agencies—Maa Associates, AP Motors, Shree Durgamba, and iMobility—were running city buses under BCLL across 25 routes. The shutdown began on July 4 last year, when Maa Associates halted operations of 149 buses, citing reduced per-kilometer payments from the ‘Chalo App’ ticketing agency. Despite ongoing discussions, no resolution was reached for over a year. As a result, the city’s bus fleet dropped from 368 to just 60 buses. The issue was also raised in the recent Municipal Council meeting, highlighting the plight of daily commuters. New efforts to restore services After the issue intensified, Commissioner Sanskriti Jain took the initiative to address the matter. The operator firm M/s Incubate Softech resolved pending RTO tax and permit issues and resumed bus operations on route TR-4. The firm, which earlier managed 77 buses, restarted with 16 CNG buses as part of the revival effort. With this step, Bhopal’s struggling public transport system may finally see gradual improvement, offering much-needed relief to thousands of daily passengers.