Panipat gets 15 e-buses; charging station set up

The Panipat Roadways Depot has received 15 new electric buses, and these would soon be plying on rural routes of the district. The e-buses would most likely hit the roads this month, after being inaugurated by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

The old bus stand here has been renovated completely, and developed as a special charging and maintenance station for the e-buses, containing nine charging stations.

The initiative is not only poised to help curb air pollution, but would also prove helpful in preventing traffic jams, especially the NH-44.

Union Minister and former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had launched the city bus service in Panipat on January 28 last year.

According to Haryana Roadways officials, city buses are generating over Rs 70 per km.

With the addition of the 15 e-buses, the department has begun a survey of routes to identify the number of passengers on each route. After the survey, new buses will be assigned routes accordingly.

Panipat depot General Manager Vikram Kamboj said, “Routes for the electric buses will be finalised after completion of the survey. The e-Buses would most likely ply on local routes — Madlauda, Israna, Samalkha, Sanoli, and Gharaunda from the old bus stand,” he said.

Notably, the transformation of the old bus stand to a charging station has made it a high-tension zone, and passengers won’t be allowed to board buses from there.

“I have requested Deputy Commissioner Virender Kumar Dahiya to allow passengers to board e-buses from a boarding point under the elevated highway in front of the old bus stand,” Kamboj added.

The e-buses can run 100 kms on one charge. e-buses takes about an hour to get fully charged, the General Manager said.