Gurgaon: Facing frequent breakdowns of city buses, GMCBL on Tuesday approved the replacement of 25 ageing buses with new BS-VI-compliant CNG buses.The decision, aimed at improving the reliability of public transport services, was taken during the 40th GMCBL board meeting.The board approved the induction of 12-metre-long new buses, each having 36 seats. The new standard floor buses will replace the existing low floor buses that have completed a substantial part of their operational life and are no longer operating efficiently.The decision comes at a time when the ageing fleet has been affecting daily operations. According to officials, around 20 to 25 buses break down on average every day, leading to service disruptions, delays and increased maintenance costs.City bus services were launched in 2018 with a fleet of 200 CNG low-floor buses. In 2021, 50 buses were transferred to Faridabad, reducing the fleet available for the city. Officials said the existing buses have been in operation for several years and are nearing the end of their concession period. Under the current concession agreements, around 100 buses are scheduled to be phased out in June 2029, while the remaining buses will retire by Aug 2029.Officials said replacing a part of the ageing fleet at this stage will improve fleet availability, reduce maintenance-related disruptions and provide more dependable services for commuters.The board also reviewed the progress of the electric bus induction into the city bus fleet. The first fully air-conditioned electric bus, with a seating capacity of 25 passengers, has been delivered to GMCBL and will soon undergo operational trials before being deployed on city routes. Another 24 electric buses are expected to be inducted shortly, taking the first batch to 25 buses. A total of 100 electric buses will be added in phases under the current plan.Officials said the induction of electric buses is expected to expand public transport capacity while offering cleaner and more comfortable travel. The air-conditioned buses are also expected to encourage more commuters to opt for public transport.The board was also informed that commuters can now pay fares using any UPI-enabled application across all GMCBL buses. Chief executive officer Vishwajeet Chaudhary said digital payments now account for around 30% of total fare collections, indicating a steady shift towards cashless transactions.“The induction of new buses will help improve the city’s public transport network. We are also seeing a steady increase in digital fare payments, making bus travel more convenient for commuters,” Chaudhary said.
