LUCKNOW, Oct. 26 -- Introduced as a premium travel option between Lucknow and Ayodhya, the electric double-decker bus service has failed to attract sufficient passengers, prompting the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) to suspend operations for the third time in a year. Of the eight buses initially allotted to the Lucknow region, six have been shifted to other cities, while the remaining two remain idle due to technical issues. The service, which connected Awadh bus station in Kamta with Lata Mangeshkar Chowk in Ayodhya, struggled to compete with regular roadways buses in terms of travel time and fares. With a maximum speed of 50 kmph, the double-deckers took nearly three to four hours to complete the journey, compared to around two-and-a-half hours by regular buses. Higher fares further deterred passengers. "Passenger occupancy on double-decker buses operating from Lucknow has remained low, while the two buses running in Gorakhpur have recorded an occupancy rate of around 50%. We are exploring alternative routes to improve utilisation and plan to introduce services on new routes soon," said Vimal Rajan, regional manager, UPSRTC, Lucknow. The corporation has shifted three of the eight double-decker buses allotted to Lucknow to Gorakhpur, two to Noida and one to Prayagraj. The remaining two are stationed in Lucknow but remain idle due to battery and charging-related issues. Each double-decker bus costs approximately Rs.2.5 crore, raising concerns over their prolonged underutilisation. The service was initially expected to generate about Rs.20,000 per trip, but actual earnings remained around Rs.8,000. With operating costs estimated at Rs.4,000-Rs.5,000 per trip between Kamta and Ayodhya, the revenue left to cover other expenses remained limited. The service has faced challenges since its launch. All eight buses remained parked at the Barabanki depot for several months before two were deployed on the Ayodhya route....