Ambala first in Haryana to run fully electric AC bus fleet: Vij

Ambala: Haryana energy, transport and labour minister Anil Vij on Saturday flagged off 10 electric air-conditioned buses in Ambala Cantonment, making it the first city in the state to run a fully electric AC local bus fleet.Addressing a gathering near the PWD Rest House, Vij said all 25 buses under the city service are now electric, offering cleaner and more comfortable public transport, especially in summer.He said the local bus service, suspended for nearly two decades, was revived on November 1, 2024, after he took charge of the transport department. With the addition of the new buses, the fleet now operates 25 e-buses on 17 routes.Highlighting performance, Vij said the service has generated nearly Rs 4 crore in revenue and carried around 22 lakh passengers since its relaunch.After the flag-off, the minister bought a ticket and travelled in one of the buses with commuters and party workers.He also announced new bus terminals at Pipli, Sonipat and Gurugram under the PPP model. The Gurugram facility will be integrated with a nearby metro station to ensure seamless connectivity through e-buses.Vij said the department is developing a real-time bus tracking system and mobile app to help commuters monitor bus locations, arrival times and route deviations.He added that steps are being taken to provide hygienic food at bus stands through a corporation on the lines of IRCTC, besides improving sanitation and removing encroachments.On labour welfare, he said the "Shram Mitra" app will enable people to hire workers such as masons, plumbers and AC mechanics, while helping registered labourers access regular work.Among those present were SDM Kanika Goyal, Haryana City Bus Service Ltd additional CEO Ashok Bansal, GM Roadways Ashwini Dogra, RTA Sushil Kumar, Ambala Sadar MC chairperson Swaran Kaur and other officials and local leaders.