PM-e buses are set to hit roads of major cities in the State in coming months. Indore has been selected as the first city to launch these AC electric buses probably from next month. A total of 582 e-buses will operate across the State although at a later stage, the numbers will increase. In the first phase, the services will be started in Bhopal and Jabalpur in addition to Indore. Subsequently, the second phase will introduce PM-e bus services in Sagar, Ujjain and Gwalior. These are state-of-the-art, fully air-conditioned, 25-seater buses. Routes and fares for these buses in the respective cities have already been finalised. According to concerned official, around 150 buses will hit the roads in Indore. The buses will operate on eight routes in the city. Next in line is the capital, Bhopal, where 100 buses will run across ten routes; Jabalpur will also see the operation of 100 electric buses. Both the Central and State governments will provide subsidies to the company to facilitate the operation of these buses. Construction of depots in the six cities is currently proceeding on a war footing. Depots will be built at Bairagarh and Kasturba Nagar in Bhopal, and at Nayata Mundla and Chandan Nagar in Indore.

 

Additionally, one depot each will be constructed in Gwalior, Ujjain, Sagar, and Jabalpur. Alongside the depots, charging stations will be set up to charge the buses, featuring a 24-hour power supply. The fare structure has also been determined. Initially, passengers will be charged at a rate of Rs 1.50 per kilometre; for instance, a 5-kilometre journey will cost Rs 7.50. However, the fares remain subject to potential revision. Sources indicate that if this plan to operate e-buses proves successful, similar buses will eventually run in other cities and on inter-city routes. A meeting was held recently between Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav and the Board of Directors of Madhya Pradesh Passenger Transport and Infrastructure Limited. Significant decisions regarding the State’s new transport system were made during the meeting, where officials also delivered a presentation. It was outlined that bus operations under the ‘Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva Yojana’ and the ‘PM-eBus Sewa’ would commence in the Indore region. All districts within the Indore division, along with the Indore-based Atal Indore City Transport Service Limited (AICTSL), will jointly shoulder the responsibility of operating these buses.