Amid dilapidated roads, SSCL to ply 25 new e-buses in Srinagar

Srinagar, Apr 5: In a bid to strengthen the public transport system in the summer capital, the Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) has procured 25 new e-buses.

Officials said that these buses will be operational within a week on various routes. SSCL already has 75 buses running on various routes in Srinagar, and some are inter-district buses operating from the city to other districts. Officials said that the existing buses are 9-meter-long with 23-seat capacity.

“These new buses have a 35-seat capacity and are 12 meters long. These are more comfortable and suitable for running long distances,” said an official, adding that SSCL now has a fleet of a hundred e-buses across Srinagar.

Officials said a detailed inspection was conducted on the buses on Thursday. They said various technical aspects were inspected, and officials from RTO, J&K Road Transport Corporation, and SSCL were part of the inspection.

Officials also said that SSCL will procure more buses next year to strengthen the fleet further. They said that they will ensure that inter-district routes and the outskirts of Srinagar are also covered so that passengers don’t face any issues.

Each bus is equipped with cameras, a lift system for wheelchair-bound passengers, and other emergency facilities. There are many services that will be operated through mobile applications. These buses also have a proper heating and cooling system, which will be helpful in Kashmir weather.

General Manager Planning at Srinagar Smart City, Anuj Malhotra, said that an inspection was conducted on Thursday, and buses will be plying on roads within a week.

“We will complete registration and remaining formalities, and these buses will be out on the roads. We are planning to introduce 100 more buses next year so that every route in Srinagar will have a proper e-bus service,” Malhotra said.

However, commuters have expressed concern over the failure of SSCL to complete developmental works in Srinagar saying the dilapidated roads are taking toll on them. “We wonder how can these costly buses ply amid dilapidated roads in Srinagar?” questioned Abdul Hamid, a commuter.