Residents of Noida will soon no longer have to pay high fares for auto or cab rides to reach offices, bus stations, and metro stations. The Noida Authority is preparing to launch a city bus service, introducing 100 electric buses to enhance last mile connectivity. These e-buses will be operated under the PM e-bus service, a major initiative by the central government. In the first phase, the buses will run on routes connecting Noida to Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Greater Noida. These e-buses will operate on a total of 27 routes in the Gautam Budh Nagar district – 13 in Noida, nine routes in Greater Noida, and five in Yamuna Expressway region. At present, Noida lacks an intra-city bus service, forcing commuters to rely on autos, e-rickshaws, and app-based cabs, many of which charge inconsistent fares, placing a financial strain on passengers. The Uttar Pradesh Urban Transport Directorate, which is the nodal agency for implementing this central scheme, has already given a presentation on running e-buses in the city. According to reports, after the presentation by the Uttar Pradesh Urban Transport Directorate, Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M directed officials to study the proposal, prepare a detailed action plan and prepare a draft for setting up bus depots, stops, and e-charging stations. Once the plan is ready, it will be sent to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for approval.
Under the project, an agency selected by MoHUA will be responsible for the procurement, operation, and maintenance of the buses. Convergence Energy Services Limited has been entrusted with the task of overseeing the nationwide aggregation of e-bus operations under the scheme.
Officials estimate the operating cost of the bus service to be Rs 60 per kilometre. Ticket sales will cover 50 percent of this cost, while the central government will contribute 36.7 percent (Rs 22 per km), and the Noida Authority will cover the remaining 13.3 percent (Rs 8 per km). The central government’s assistance will be available for 10 years or until March 2037, whichever comes first. Funds for the first quarter will be released in advance, with future instalments contingent on the submission of performance reports or utilisation certificates each quarter. To manage the funds, the Noida Authority will open an escrow account and will also provide infrastructure like bus depots and charging stations.
Comments
0 comment