Patna: In a major push towards modernizing and promoting eco-friendly public transport, the state govt is set to introduce 200 state-of-the-art electric buses under the second phase of the PM e-Bus Service Scheme.The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) has issued a Letter of Award to Greencell Mobility Private Limited, which was selected by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs.Transport secretary Raj Kumar said on Tuesday that the first batch of 200 electric buses is expected to arrive by the first week of June, while regular operations are likely to commence by the last week of the month. He added that the state aims to eventually operate a fleet of 400 electric buses under the scheme, significantly strengthening Bihar’s public transport network.BSRTC administrator Atul Kumar Verma said Greencell Mobility Private Limited would be responsible for supplying, operating and maintaining the 200 nine-metre electric buses.“The buses will run on the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model with full support from the central govt. To ensure seamless operations, the corporation is simultaneously developing the required electrical and civil infrastructure, including charging stations and modern bus depots,” Atul said.The buses are equipped with several modern passenger safety and comfort features, including GPS tracking, speed governors, CCTV cameras, panic buttons, digital information systems, comfortable seating and disabled-friendly facilities.“The introduction of e-buses will significantly reduce pollution by lowering carbon emissions and improving air quality in urban areas compared to conventional diesel buses. Once operational, the service is expected to provide citizens with safe, reliable and affordable public transport,” Atul said.At present, 25 e-buses are operating in Patna, Gaya, Vaishali and Rajgir. Of the 200 new buses, 75 will run in Patna, while 25 each will operate in Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur, Gaya and Purnia. Additional buses in the second phase will also cover districts including Sitamarhi, Sheohar and Madhubani.
