Panchkula Roadways’ fleet has been gifted with five electric buses. To support this, 10 charging stations for electric buses have been installed at Sector 5 bus stand. With the introduction of electric buses, residents will benefit from improved transportation facilities, and the environment will also be safeguarded. Initially, the roadways will operate five buses on one route. Panchkula is set to receive an additional 50 electric buses under the CT Bus Service soon. This bus service will not only enhance transportation for Panchkula residents but will also contribute to environmental conservation. The government has entered into a 12-year agreement with the JBM company for this bus city service, committing Rs 2450 crore over the period. All bus expenses will be covered by the company, while the operation will be managed by Haryana Roadways through a separate corporation named Haryana City Bus Services Limited.
For the convenience of citizens, the fare for this bus service will remain standard. The buses will serve areas adjacent to the city, and the air-conditioned electric buses will have a length of 12 meters with a capacity of 32 seats. These buses will be equipped with CCTV cameras, panic buttons, LED display systems, pink seats for women, wheelchair ramps, and reserved seats for the elderly and disabled. The bus fare will be Rs 10 for 1 to 5 kilometers, Rs 15 for 5 to 8 kilometers, and Rs 20 for 8 to 20 kilometers.
The city bus service will follow designated routes within the city, similar to auto-rickshaws. The fare structure for the city bus service will also remain standard. The electric buses, once charged, will have a range of approximately 115 kilometers. The designated Bell Corridor in the urban area covers Housing Board Light Point to Sector 7-18, Sector 8-17, Sector 9-16, Sector 10-15, Sector 11-14, Sector 12-12A, Sector 11-10, Sector 5-4, Sector 5-2, Sector 5-6, and Sector 7-8 dividing road.
Haryana Assembly Speaker Gyan Chand Gupta mentioned that a new and improved transportation service is being introduced for the city’s residents. This marks the third initiative since the formation of the BJP government in the state. The bus depot established earlier initiated 150 short route and long-distance buses, and in 2020, 40 mini buses were introduced for intra-city transport. The introduction of electric buses will be the third such service, comprising a total fleet of 50 buses for the city. This project is expected to contribute to the reduction of pollution levels in Panchkula, and route plans have been formulated for public services in the city.