Jammu And Kashmir Will Run Electric Buses In Srinagar Starting Next Month

Srinagar: The government of Jammu and Kashmir, governed by the governor Satya Pal Malik, decided to operate electric buses in the city of Srinagar, the summer capital of the state. As a pilot project, the city will have 30 buses at the beginning of next month.

On Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary tweeted: “A small start, 30 new electric buses to get to the #Srinagar roads, more to follow, RTA will allocate routes next week, welcome suggestions.”

Choudhary on Thursday told TOI that in the first phase, 20 buses would run in the city and the other ten in the adjacent areas of the Srinagar district.

Eventually, the government would extend the electric buses to other areas of the Valley, the deputy commissioner added.

Each bus has the capacity to transport 50 passengers (30 seated and 20 standing) comfortably and can run up to 150 km with a full charge.

He said that the fare would be slightly lower than that of conventional buses, since the operating cost would be lower.

“Although we have identified routes and stations, we are open to suggestions,” he said.

In early May, a test of electric buses was carried out in the city of Jammu.

The government had purchased 40 electric buses under the subsidized Adoption and Hybrid Manufacturing and Electric Vehicles scheme of the Central government.