VMC’s e-bus fleet idle a month after arrival

Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation has 30 e-buses and a fully equipped charging and maintenance facility ready, but services have not begun as the civic body awaits a formal inauguration.

The first lot of seven e-buses reached the city in April, but operations were delayed as the charging and maintenance facility at Gotri was then incomplete. With the facility now ready, VMC has also identified 28 routes for the new buses.

Officials said the city’s bus fleet will grow to 40 e-buses by the end of this month. The buses have been allotted under the PMeBus Sewa scheme of the central govt. In total, Vadodara is to receive 250 e-buses by the end of this year.

“The charging and maintenance facility with passenger amenities at Gotri is the first such centre. Two more similar facilities will be developed in Sayajigunj and Nizampura. These will help decentralize operations and ensure charging access across the city,” an official said.

Despite public interest in the new fleet, the buses have remained unused for nearly a month after their arrival. Officials said the delay was linked to the launch process. “This is a scheme of the central govt under which buses are provided to states. Inaugurations are often held simultaneously from one beneficiary state or through a common event. Once that is completed, we can start operating the buses,” VMC deputy municipal commissioner V M Rajput said.