Saroor
Jammu, Jan 21: As 52 days have passed from its arrival, nearly 75 e-buses biting dust in the yard are awaiting launch in the ‘City of Temples’.
As per sources in the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC), the e-buses in Jammu city to provide convenience to the travellers are in queue for its launch after 52 days of its arrival in the winter capital.
“Even after 52 days, the launch of e-buses is in the pipeline. However, bus service is available in Srinagar,” sources added.
They said that due to its launch being put on hold, 75 buses are biting dust in the yard located at Bhagwati Nagar.
“With the launch of this facility, the transport will be available every 10 to 20 minutes till 11 pm,” they said, adding that the process of starting the e-service started during the Amarnath Yatra, but the consignment of buses did not arrive in the months of July and August last year.
They said that 30 buses were made available in the month of October, adding they said, “presently regular travellers are forced to travel in mini buses or auto-rickshaws by paying higher fares.”
“The benefit of e-buses will be that it will provide cheap service to the people travelling on and off in the city jurisdiction,” sources said and added that 25 buses are to run from Jammu to Kathua, Samba and Katra.
“The buses are laced with modern technologies besides health care facilities to meet any emergency like situation with a passenger,” they said and added that in case of theft or tampering, calling facility to the nearest police station through the driver is also available in the vehicle. The buses will also be equipped with CCTV cameras.
Sources stated that auto-rickshaws are charging Rs 100 to Rs 150 for a journey of two to three kilometres whereas, in e-bus, the fare from 0 to 3 kilometers is only Rs 10, from three to five kilometers only Rs 15, from five to ten it is twenty, from 10 to 15 it is Rs 25, from 15 to 20 it is Rs 30, from 20 to 25, it is Rs 35 while from 25 to 35 kilometres, Rs 40 has been fixed as a fare to be paid.
“As many as 75 e-buses will run in a phased manner. In the first phase, around 30 buses will operate in the city for which the process is already set into motion,” they said.
“The buses will have a yard at Bhagwati Nagar with 16 charging point stations and operational routes,” they said and added that e-bus service launch is expected soon as it is already delayed.
