BHOPAL’S urban transit landscape is set for a major transformation as free passenger trials for 10 air-conditioned electric buses commence on Wednesday under the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme. Municipal authorities estimate that the city will eventually operate a total fleet of 245 electric buses, significantly improving daily urban mobility for over one lakh commuters across various municipal zones. In the initial rollout phase, 100 buses have been sanctioned under the Gross Cost Contract model, while Bhopal City Link Limited will induct an additional 145 electric buses in subsequent phases, with 21 buses already delivered to the newly constructed Bairagarh depot facility. Trial runs operate free across designated corridors The trial service will initially operate along two key urban routes, connecting Chirayu Hospital to Bairagarh Chichli via the Board Office Metro Station, and linking Chirayu Hospital to the Railway Coach Factory along the same central transit node. Passengers can access free public travel during this experimental testing phase, allowing operations staff to evaluate vehicle performance and route efficiency. Full commercial operations for the first fleet of 100 electric buses are scheduled to officially commence on August 15. Transport Department sanctions twelve key city routes The Transport Department has formally approved 12 operational routes out of 26 proposals submitted by Bhopal City Link Limited to maximize transit efficiency across suburban corridors.

 

The longest operational route will connect Sehore to Ratapani over a distance of 68.5 kilometers, while the shortest service will run between Acharpura Industrial Area and BDA Colony across 32 kilometers. Additional approved corridors include Sukhi Sewaniya to Bhojpur, Coach Factory to Obaidullaganj, Bilkhiria to Sehore, and Phanda to Mandideep. Under the operational allocation for the PM e-Bus Sewa project, 65 buses will operate out of the Bairagarh depot while 35 vehicles will be stationed at the Kasturba Nagar ISBT depot facility. Central authorities selected GreenCell Mobility to provide trained drivers and technical maintenance staff, with the concessionaire already installing 11 fast-charging stations at the Bairagarh facility. Under the Gross Cost Contract framework, each bus must run a minimum of 180 kilometers daily, with the operator receiving Rs 58.14 per kilometer, comprising a central subsidy of Rs 22 and Rs 36.14 funded by the State Government. The newly inducted electric bus fleet comes equipped with advanced technological features, including AIS-140 GPS tracking units, full air conditioning, five security CCTV cameras, and AI-based automated passenger counting systems. Vehicles are further fitted with emergency panic buttons, hydraulic wheelchair lifts, safety hammers, public announcement systems, and LED display panels. Commuters can also utilise a dedicated mobile application for digital ticketing and pass purchases, while all operational metrics remain monitored in real time from the central control room.