Rajasthan CM launches PM-eBus Sewa, flags off electric buses for Jaipur and Bhilwara
Jaipur, June 20
In a major boost to sustainable urban mobility, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma inaugurated the 'PM-eBus Sewa' scheme in the state on Saturday.
At a ceremony held at the Amar Jawan Jyoti in Jaipur, the Chief Minister flagged off 29 modern electric buses for the capital city and simultaneously launched 18 electric buses for Bhilwara via video conferencing.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma stated that the initiative, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2023, is aimed at revolutionising public transport by prioritising electric mobility. "The operation of these buses will provide a clean, safe, and convenient public transport system for our citizens, playing a vital role in reducing environmental pollution in our cities," he said.
Phased Deployment: A total of 1,150 electric buses have been sanctioned for Rajasthan. The first phase will see 675 buses becoming operational by Diwali, with an additional 475 buses planned for subsequent rollout.
City Coverage: The scheme is being implemented across eight major cities, including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota, Bikaner, Bhilwara, Alwar, and Ajmer.
The new buses are equipped with state-of-the-art features such as air conditioning, CCTV cameras for enhanced women's safety, and panic buttons. They are designed to offer safe and affordable travel for women, students, senior citizens, and differently-abled passengers.
Future Transit Expansion: The state government is also working to deploy 555 e-buses for city transport and 50 double-decker e-buses specifically for tourism purposes.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the initiative is a critical step toward realising the 'Viksit Rajasthan 2047' vision. He noted that the state's 'double-engine' government has significantly accelerated development across key sectors, including power, industry, and transportation, over the past two and a half years.
Highlighting the state's commitment to environmental conservation, CM Sharma mentioned the 'Hariyalo Rajasthan' campaign, which has successfully facilitated the planting of approximately 20 crore saplings. He urged citizens to participate in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative to further strengthen the state's green cover.
Following the flag-off ceremony, the Chief Minister conducted an inspection of the new buses, checking modern facilities including the panic buttons and CCTV systems, and took a short commute in one of the electric buses from Amar Jawan Jyoti to the State Hangar.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see Indian states moving toward electric public transport. I'm from the US and we're still struggling to get electric school buses in many areas. The panic buttons and CCTV focus on women's safety is a smart move. Hope the Rajasthan government keeps up the momentum on renewable energy too.
Double-engine sarkar ka kamal! But seriously, 1,150 buses for 8 cities is good but still not enough. Jaipur alone needs at least 500-600 buses for proper coverage. The 'Hariyalo Rajasthan' campaign and 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' are nice touches but show me the results, not just announcements. Actions speak louder than press releases.
Love the focus on sustainability! 🌱 As someone who visited Jaipur last year, the public transport definitely needed an upgrade. The double-decker e-buses for tourism sound amazing - imagine sightseeing without the noise and pollution. Hope they also add some solar charging stations along the routes to make it fully green.
Bhilwara getting e-buses too? That's unexpected but welcome! I'm from there and we desperately need better public transport. The auto walas charge exorbitant rates. Just hope these buses actually run on time and don't break down after a month like some previous govt buses. Also, where's the plan for charging infrastructure?
Viksit Rajasthan 2047 sounds ambitious but we need more than just buses. What about road quality, last-mile connectivity, and frequency? 29 buses for Jaipur is a drop in the ocean for a city of 3 million.
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