Raipur 30 November 2024: Citizens in four cities of Chhattisgarh, Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg-Bhilai and Korba are soon going to get the facility of eco-friendly, affordable, reliable and smooth transport. A total of 240 e-buses will be operated in these four cities under the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Service. On the initiative of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai, the Government of India has approved 100 e-buses for Raipur, 50-50 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 Vishnu Dev Sai said that with the start of e-bus service, air quality will improve and environment will be protected due to less carbon emission in the cities of Chhattisgarh. With low energy consumption and better fuel efficiency, comfortable commuting facilities will be available to the citizens. It will be developed as an alternative to metro or its supporting means in cities, so that people get the facility of affordable, reliable and easy transport.
Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration and Development Minister Arun Sao said 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 BTM power infrastructure in cities. He said that under the scheme, three types of buses will be run – standard, medium and mini. The number of buses has been determined on the basis of the population of the cities.
He said that the state government has accelerated the preparations to put these e-buses on the roads and has also approved a total of Rs 67 crore 40 lakh for bus depots and BTM power infrastructure in the four cities and has also given permission to invite tenders. The State Urban Development Agency of the Urban Administration and Development Department has sanctioned funds for both these works to the Urban Public Service Society formed separately for the operation of e-bus service in the four cities and has asked them to invite tenders.
SUDA has issued administrative approval of Rs 14 crore 33 lakh to Raipur Urban Public Service Society for the civil infrastructure of the bus depot to start bus service in Raipur. This includes a central share of Rs 8 crore 60 lakh and a state share of Rs 5 crore 73 lakh. SUDA has also sanctioned 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 the civil infrastructure of the bus depot for e-buses in Durg-Bhilai. This includes a central share of Rs 4 crore 4 lakh and a state share of Rs 2 crore 69 lakh. Rs 11 crore 2 lakh has been sanctioned for BTM power infrastructure there. Bilaspur Urban Public Service Society has been granted administrative approval of Rs 8 crore 37 lakh for the civil infrastructure of the bus depot in Bilaspur. This includes a central share of Rs 5 crore 2 lakh and a state share of Rs 3 crore 35 lakh. Rs 3 crore 8 lakh has been sanctioned for BTM power infrastructure. Similarly, Korba Urban Public Service Society has been granted administrative approval of Rs 7 crore 19 lakh for the civil infrastructure of the bus depot in Korba. This includes a central share of Rs 4 crore 31 lakh and a state share of Rs 2 crore 88 lakh. Rs 3 crore 78 lakh has been sanctioned for BTM power infrastructure.
Cities have been divided into four categories, buses have been sanctioned on the basis of population
Under the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Seva, 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 e-buses, cities with a population of 10 to 20 lakh and 5 to 10 lakh are eligible for 100 e-buses each, and cities with a population of less than 5 lakh are eligible for 50 e-buses. On this basis, Raipur has been approved 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.
