Bhopal Gets 5 New E-Bus Depots, 10 Electric Buses

Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, is set to expand its electric bus services with the establishment of five new e-bus depots across the city.

The Bhopal City Link Limited (BCLL) has received approval from the Centre to set up these new depots, which will support the expansion of electric bus services under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme.

The state government will provide the land for the new facilities, while the selected concessionaire will bear the entire cost of constructing the depots.

Potential sites for the new depots have been identified between Karond and Ayodhya Bypass, Kalapani in Kolar, Raisen Road, and near Deepdi village before Bangrasiya.

These additional depots are being planned to ensure efficient operations and maintenance while providing inter-city coverage as the electric bus fleet expands.

Under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme, Bhopal is slated to operate 245 electric buses, with the first batch of 21 buses already reaching the city.

The first commercial services will operate with 10 buses on two transit corridors, starting from Wednesday.

Initially, the fleet will expand to 20 buses before increasing to 100 in the next phase.

BCLL has also floated tenders for the remaining 145 electric buses, completing the planned fleet of 245 buses.

The new electric buses will also serve intercity routes connecting Bhopal with surrounding areas, including destinations such as Sehore, Ratapani, and Mandideep.

According to BCLL CEO, Anju Arun Kumar, commercial operations with the first 10 buses are set to start within the next couple of days.

The expansion of electric bus services in Bhopal is expected to improve public transport connectivity in the city and surrounding areas.

This move is also expected to reduce pollution and promote sustainable transportation in the city.

Overall, the establishment of new e-bus depots and the expansion of electric bus services in Bhopal is a significant step towards improving the city's public transportation system.