As many as 45 low-floor electric buses, which had been parked at the old bus stand for the last six months, will finally hit the roads from Thursday. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will flag off 80 low-floor e-buses, including 45 from the Panipat depot, from the old bus stand here on Thursday.
The buses will not only operate within the city but will also run on routes connecting Panipat with Karnal, Shamli, Sonepat, Singhu Border, Gharaunda in Karnal district, and Safidon in Jind district.
These e-buses are expected to provide commuters with safer and better transport facilities while offering significant relief to elderly passengers, women and specially-abled commuters due to their low-floor design. Apart from this, the buses are also expected to play a major role in curbing air pollution in the NCR region.
Notably, Union Minister and former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had launched the city bus service in Panipat on January 28, 2024. So far, only five buses have been operating between the new bus stand at Sewah village and the toll plaza on NH-44, covering nearly 10 km on one side during each trip. Now, the Roadways Department has decided to add two more buses to the city bus service.
Although the city bus service has not received an overwhelming response from passengers, the buses have still been generating good revenue. Commuters have especially preferred travelling in these e-buses during the ongoing summer season.
According to available information, the old bus stand has been completely renovated and developed as a dedicated charging and maintenance station for the e-buses. It has a total of nine charging stations, where nine buses can be charged simultaneously.
Vikram Kamboj, General Manager, Panipat Depot, said all preparations for operating the 45 low-floor e-buses had been completed and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini would flag off the buses on Thursday.
He said a total of 17 routes had been finalised for the operation of these buses. The charging and maintenance of the electric buses would be managed at the old bus stand, he added.
Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner Amit Chouksey held a meeting on Wednesday with officials of various departments to review preparations and assign duties. MLA Pramod Vij and BJP district president Dushyant Bhatt were also present at the meeting. ADC Chouksey said Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini would inaugurate the low-floor e-buses and address a public gathering at the auditorium of Arya PG College.
17 routes finalised for e-buses
The Roadways Department has finalised 17 routes, including adjoining cities and the Delhi border, for the operation of the 45 e-buses. According to available information, the buses will ply on the following routes:
