E-buses will run in these four cities of Chhattisgarh, CM Sai said – Citizens will get eco-friendly, affordable, reliable and smooth transport facilities

Raipur: Citizens of four cities of Chhattisgarh, Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg-Bhilai and Korba are soon going to get the facility of eco-friendly, economical, reliable and smooth transport. Under the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Service, a total of 240 e-buses will be operated in these four cities. On the initiative of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the Government of India has approved 100 e-buses for Raipur, 50 each for Bilaspur and Durg-Bhilai and 40 e-buses for Korba under the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Service. At the state level, SUDA has been made the nodal agency for this and the Urban Public Service Society formed in the respective districts has been made the implementing agency.

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that with the start of e-bus service, air quality will improve and environment will be protected by reducing carbon emissions in the cities of Chhattisgarh. Along with low energy consumption and better fuel efficiency, citizens will get comfortable transportation. It will be developed as an alternative to metro or its supporting means in the cities, so that people get the facility of economical, reliable and smooth transportation.

Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration and Development Minister Arun Saw informed that the Prime Minister e-Bus Service Scheme has been started by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to improve the infrastructure of public transport in urban areas. In this innovative scheme of public transport, the Central Government will provide financial assistance to the cities for the purchase and operation of buses. A large part of this will also be spent for infrastructure development like bus depots and Behind -the -Meter (BTM ) power infrastructure in cities. He informed that three types of buses, standard, medium and mini, will be run under the scheme. The number of buses has been determined on the basis of the population of the cities.

He further informed that the state government has accelerated the preparations to put these e-buses on the roads and has approved a total of Rs 67 crore 40 lakh for bus depots and Behind -the -Meter(BTM) power infrastructure in the four cities and has also given permission to invite tenders. The State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) of the Urban Administration and Development Department has asked the Urban Public Service Society, formed separately for the operation of e-bus service in the four cities, to approve the amount for both these works and invite tenders. SUDA has issued administrative approval of Rs 14 crore 33 lakh to Raipur Urban Public Service Society for civil infrastructure of bus depot to start bus service in Raipur. This includes central share of Rs 8 crore 60 lakh and state share of Rs 5 crore 73 lakh.

SUDA has also approved Rs 12 crore 90 lakh for BTM power infrastructure. SUDA has issued administrative approval of Rs 6 crore 73 lakh to Durg-Bhilai Urban Public Service Society for civil infrastructure of bus depot for e-buses in Durg-Bhilai. This includes central share of Rs 4 crore 4 lakh and state share of Rs 2 crore 69 lakh. Rs 11 crore 2 lakh has been approved for BTM power infrastructure there. Bilaspur Urban Public Service Society has been given administrative approval of Rs 8 crore 37 lakh for civil infrastructure of bus depot in Bilaspur. This includes central share of Rs 5 crore 2 lakh and state share of Rs 3 crore 35 lakh. Three crore eight lakh rupees have been sanctioned for BTM power infrastructure. Similarly, administrative approval of seven crore 19 lakh rupees has been issued to Korba Urban Public Service Society for civil infrastructure of bus depot in Korba. This includes central share of four crore 31 lakh rupees and state share of two crore 88 lakh rupees. Three crore 78 lakh rupees have been sanctioned for BTM power infrastructure.

Cities have been divided into four categories, buses have been sanctioned on the basis of population

Under Pradhan Mantri e-bus service, cities have been divided into four categories on the basis of population. Cities with a population of 20 lakh to 40 lakh are eligible for 150, cities with a population of ten to twenty lakh and five to ten lakh are eligible for 100-100 and cities with a population of less than five lakh are eligible for 50 e-buses. On this basis, Raipur has received approval for 100 medium e-buses, Durg-Bhilai for 50 medium e-buses, Bilaspur for 35 medium and 15 mini e-buses and Korba for 20 medium and 20 mini e-buses.

As per the guidelines of the scheme, the purchase of buses and the selection of the operating agency will be done by the Government of India.