25 e-buses set to hit Sangam city roads soon

PRAYAGRAJ: In the next few months, 25 state-of-the-art battery-operated e-buses will be plying on the roads of Sangam city. The 25-strong fleet of buses has already landed in the city and is expected to start operating by January-February next year.

These fully air-conditioned buses have several features including announcement of next stoppage before reaching it (like in a metro train), indicator for low battery (before 20 km of total discharge), music system, a mike with driver to interact with passengers as and when required, GPS system in every bus and a CCTV near driver’s seat to have a full view of passengers.

To start with, these buses have been registered with the district regional transport office (RTO) and will be operating on two major routes of the city. Another set of 25 buses will be received in a few months, after which, three additional routes will be added, officials said.

For operating these e-buses, authorities of Prayagraj City Transport Service limited (PCTSL) have chalked out a detailed route map. Besides, a mega charging station has been developed near the old Yamuna bridge on Naini side wherein 25 electronic-buses can be charged at a time. This charging station is being built on an area of around 6,000 square metres.

TKS Bisen, managing director, PCTSL, said, “We have already received 24 buses and one more will come on Saturday. These buses are being registered with the local RTO and will be operating on roads in a few months”.

The official said that in the first phase, the e-buses will operate on two routes: Shantipuram (Phaphamau) to Raymond Crossing (Naini) and Trivenipuram (Jhunsi) to Puramufti (Manauri). “Later, when we get the additional 25 buses, they will be operated on three other routes which would be Railway Station to Lalgopalganj, Baihrana to Shankargarh and from Civil Lines to Pratappur,” said the MD, PCTSL.

The bus facility will be available from 6am to 8pm and each vehicle would have 28 seats. Among these, two seats would remain reserved for differently abled persons while 22 passengers can stand by holding the hangar. For the safety of passengers, the bus will only proceed for its journey after both gates are fully closed.

THESE BUSES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE RTO AND WILL BE OPERATING ON 2 MAJOR ROUTES OF THE CITY