The Gurugram Metropolitan City Bus Limited (GMCBL) began route trials of a new batch of electric buses across the city on Tuesday, ahead of the planned launch of regular services in the coming days.
Chief minister Nayab Singh Saini and Union housing and urban affairs minister Manohar Lal are likely to inaugurate the service, although a date has yet to be announced. The trials covered routes including Bhondsi and Pataudi Road, while officials worked to finalise routes and operational arrangements. “The routes are being finalised and will connect the city’s new and developing sectors. “I am driving from Mahavir Chowk to Basai Chowk, then to Hero Honda Chowk and onwards to Bhondsi. Passengers are not yet aware of the service and have been asking about it.
The city bus operator said it has received around 45 of the 100 electric buses expected under the PM-eBus Sewa scheme, with the vehicles stationed at its Sector 10 depot. An e-bus driver at Mahavir Chowk near Sadar Bazaar on Tuesday afternoon said around 35 electric buses had been deployed on different routes across the city for trials.
“We have started route trials so that we are ready for the inauguration,” he said. The route plans have been prepared by three private consultants,”said another GMCBL official. Several have boarded the bus, but since the routes are also new, it will take some time for people to get used to them,” he said.
Vishwajit Chaudhary, CEO of GMCBL, confirmed the development on Tuesday. I have covered around 150km today.
