PM e-bus service to begin in MP from July onwards:Indore to get first fleet; know routes, fares facilities

Urban transport in Madhya Pradesh is set for a major upgrade from July with the launch of the PM e-Bus Service in Indore, Bhopal and Jabalpur. The first fleet of eco-friendly, air-conditioned electric buses equipped with modern passenger amenities will begin operations in Indore. In the first phase, 150 e-buses will run on eight routes in Indore, 100 buses on 10 routes in Bhopal, and another 100 buses in Jabalpur. Under the Central Government’s PM e-Bus Service scheme, a total of 582 electric buses will be introduced across six cities in Madhya Pradesh. Operations and maintenance have been entrusted to Green Cell Mobility Private Limited, while ticketing will be managed through the digital ‘Chalo App’. After the first phase in Indore, Bhopal and Jabalpur, the service will be extended to Gwalior, Sagar and Ujjain. In this Monday Story, find out how the 25-seater air-conditioned e-buses will operate, their routes, expected fares and the facilities available to passengers. E-buses will be operated on gross cost contract model Infrastructure: 9 depots to be built in six cities Nine state-of-the-art depots are being built in six cities for the operation and maintenance of e-buses. Two depots will be built in Bhopal at Bairagarh and Kasturba Nagar at a cost of 14 crore rupees. Two depots will be prepared in Indore at Nayta Mundla and Chandan Nagar at a cost of 6 crore rupees. Two depots will be built in Gwalior, while one depot each will be built in Ujjain, Sagar and Jabalpur. The central government will bear 60% of the depot construction cost and the state government will bear 40%. The state government will spend approximately 24 crore rupees as its share. Charging infrastructure will also be prepared Charging stations for e-buses will also be built along with depots. Two each will be set up in Indore, Bhopal and Gwalior, and one each in Jabalpur, Sagar and Ujjain. For uninterrupted power supply to these nine stations being built at a cost of about 60 crore rupees, a 41 km long high tension line will be laid. Special sub-stations will also be built for this with the help of the central government. Route planning: Preparation according to 20 years’ needs A Comprehensive Mobility Plan has been prepared for every city, so that the transportation needs of the urban population for the next 20 years can be met. Indore: 150 E-buses on 8 Routes
According to Arth Jain, CEO of Atal Indore City Transport Service Limited (AICTSL), eight routes have been finalized for Indore. Bhopal: 100 E-buses on 10 Routes The service in the capital Bhopal is likely to start from the second or third week of July. Here, 100 buses will run on 10 routes. The longest route will be from Sehore to Ratapani (68.5 km), while the shortest route will be from Acharpura Industrial Area to BDA Colony (32 km). Long Route: Will pass through Sehore, Fanda, Chirayu Hospital, Bairgarh, Collectorate, Hamidia Hospital, Roshanpura, Vallabh Bhawan, Board Office, Chuna Bhatti, Mandakini Chauraha, Beema Kunj and Kajlikheda. Short Route: Will go from Acharpura Industrial Area, Lambakheda, Karond, Arif Nagar, Sangam Talkies, Railway Station, Subhash Nagar, Vallabh Bhawan, Board Office, RKMP Station to BDA Colony. Fare: Currently 1.5 rupees per km According to AICTSL CEO Arth Jain, initially passengers will be charged at the rate of 1.5 rupees per kilometer. At this rate, the fare for a 5 km journey will be 7.5 rupees. However, a high-level committee will decide on fare revision. The proposal is to increase it to 2 rupees per km. If this happens, the fare for 5 km will be 10 rupees, while for 10-15 km travel, a maximum rate of 3 rupees per km may be applicable. Ticket booking and pass facility will be available on the ‘Chalo App’. CEO’s claim: System will be technology-based and reliable Green Cell Mobility CEO Devendra Chawla said that this electric bus project in Madhya Pradesh is a significant step towards promoting large-scale sustainable public transport, moving beyond the pilot stage. According to him, strong government policies and effective implementation will accelerate clean transport.