Mumbai, July 3 -- Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) said that 100 new buses sanctioned for Srinagar under the Central government's PM eBus Sewa scheme are expected to reach Kashmir in October-November this year, with the procurement process being handled by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). An SSCL official indicated that the tendering process and other formalities remain under the ministry's control and that the first lot is expected in October-November. The statement clarified that SSCL is coordinating local arrangements for fleet integration and scheduling.
Earlier SSCL had stated in December that the additional buses had been approved under the PM eBus Sewa scheme and were likely to arrive by June 2026. At present SSCL operates a fleet of 98 buses serving commuters across Srinagar city and adjoining areas. Officials noted that the current schedule continues to rely on the existing fleet pending arrival of the new vehicles.
The Government of India launched the PM eBus Sewa scheme on August 16, 2023 to strengthen urban public transport by deploying 10,000 electric buses across the country under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Procurement under the scheme is managed centrally while local agencies are responsible for operations and integration. The scheme aims to reduce emissions and improve public transport capacity in participating cities.
The delay in delivery has prompted concern among commuters, who have repeatedly highlighted shortages on several routes and long waiting times at peak hours. Residents have reported overcrowding and urged authorities to expedite procurement and deployment to improve frequency and reliability. SSCL and the ministry were urged to ensure transparent timelines for dispatch and integration of the additional buses promptly.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.