Gurugram: GMCBL inducts first electric bus into city fleet
Gurugram, July 22
Gurugram Metropolitan City Bus Ltd has inducted its first electric bus into the city bus fleet, marking a significant milestone in Gurugram's transition towards clean and sustainable public transport.
The air‑conditioned electric bus will undergo a three‑day trial on different routes to assess its operational performance under city conditions before being introduced into regular passenger service.
GMCBL has also introduced a new loop card for commuters and enabled UPI‑based fare payments across its bus services to make public transport more convenient and commuter‑friendly.
GMDA Chief Executive Officer P.C. Meena said the induction of the first electric bus is a transformational milestone for Gurugram's public transport system and marks the beginning of a cleaner, smarter and more sustainable mobility network for the city.
He said GMCBL is continuously working to improve the quality of public transport through modern technology, digital services and environmentally sustainable mobility solutions to encourage greater use of bus services.
The first electric bus is a fully air‑conditioned 25‑seater and is the first of a new fleet of electric buses planned for Gurugram.
Another 24 electric buses are expected to be inducted into the GMCBL fleet shortly, while 100 electric buses will be added in phases, significantly strengthening the city's public transport network and offering commuters a cleaner and more comfortable travel experience.
The CEO of GMDA said that to further improve passenger convenience, GMCBL has introduced a new, improved loop card on a trial basis and will soon be launched. This prepaid smart travel card will enable faster ticketing and cashless travel.
The card is available on a first‑time payment of Rs 100, and this complete amount can be utilised by the passenger as fare in GMCBL buses.
The card offers commuters a two per cent discount on bus fares. It also supports online recharge, allowing passengers to conveniently add balance without visiting recharge counters.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The loop card with 2% discount and online recharge feature is a smart move—very few private buses offer such convenience. But 100 buses for a city this size? We need at least 500 more. The frequency of public buses is still very low.
Hope the trial phase is thorough—road conditions in some areas are terrible for low-floor buses. And please ensure charging infrastructure is reliable. No point buying buses if they sit idle due to poor power supply or lack of charging stations. 🤞
Good to see sustainable transport initiatives in India! I've seen electric buses work well in some European cities. Key challenges here will be driver training for regenerative braking and battery management. Hope GMCBL gets that right.
Great initiative! But I have a suggestion: please make the loop card rechargeable via Paytm, GPay, and PhonePe too. Many of us don't want to download yet another app just for bus fares. Also, 2% discount feels like a token—maybe 5-10% would encourage more people to switch from private vehicles?
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