Public transport in Bihar's Gaya district is about to get a major upgrade. The state transport department has given the green light to 50 new electric AC buses for Gaya under the PM E-Bus Seva Yojana, and these buses are expected to hit the city's roads soon. After Patna, Gaya is among six major cities in the state chosen for this scheme.
What the scheme changes
Once the 50 AC electric buses start operating, urban public transport in Gaya will get a fresh boost. Passengers will get a safer, more comfortable and modern travel experience. Running electric buses will directly cut down pollution in the city, and officials believe it will also make a significant contribution to promoting green transport.
Charging infrastructure and range
Charging infrastructure needed to run these electric buses is currently being developed. According to BSRTC Gaya's regional manager Aakash Kumar, each electric bus will be able to travel about 180 kilometres on a single full charge. That means the buses will be able to cover nearby areas without needing a mid route recharge. Officials say the scheme will not only modernise Gaya's public transport system but will also mark an important step towards controlling pollution.
Buses to reach villages too
The 50 electric buses will operate out of the Gaya bus depot and run to various block areas across the district. The idea is to give people living in villages a direct link to the district headquarters, so they no longer have to struggle for transport. Currently, two pink buses for women passengers are already running in Gaya city. Separately, government buses have already begun operating from Gaya's government bus depot to Nawada, Aurangabad, Rajauli and Tikari.
22 interstate routes on the way
There is good news too for those travelling between Gaya and other states. Bus connectivity from Gaya to other states is being expanded, with 22 interstate bus services set to begin. These will cover routes from Gaya to Gurugram, Haryana, Delhi, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Deoghar and Hazaribagh. These interstate services are expected to start by the end of this month. Once operational, they are expected to bring considerable relief to passengers travelling regularly from Gaya and nearby areas to these cities, whether for work, family visits or other reasons.
