Gurgaon: The rollout of the city’s electric bus fleet gathered pace on Wednesday with the induction of the first 25-seater air-conditioned bus.Gurugram Metropolitan City Bus Limited (GMCBL) officials said the vehicle will undergo a three-day trial on different routes before being introduced into regular passenger service. Another 24 electric buses are expected to arrive by the end of this month under Phase I of the Centre’s PM e-Bus Sewa scheme.Officials said the first batch of 25 electric buses will be deployed on priority corridors, with the remaining buses under the proposed 100-bus fleet to be inducted in phases as they are delivered.During the trial, likely to start on Thursday, GMCBL will assess the first bus for route suitability, operational performance and overall efficiency under city conditions before it enters regular service.The city last expanded its bus fleet in 2021, when eight air-conditioned CNG buses were inducted. The arrival of these buses is expected to strengthen public transport at a time when fewer than 150 buses are available for operations.GMCBL currently has around 200 buses, but nearly 50 are operating in Faridabad following state govt directions. Several buses in the existing fleet are old and prone to frequent breakdowns, affecting service reliability and connectivity.Alongside the induction of the electric bus, GMCBL has introduced two commuter-focused initiatives for the city buses (Gurugaman buses) — a new Loop Card for cashless travel and UPI-based fare payment.The prepaid Loop Card, currently being rolled out on a trial basis, is available for an initial payment of Rs 100. Unlike the earlier smart card system, the entire amount can be used towards bus fares, officials said.“Passengers using the Loop Card will receive a 2% discount on fares, and the card supports online recharge. Existing smart card users will also be able to migrate to the Loop Card, with their remaining balance transferred to the new card,” an official said.The card is currently available with conductors on GMCBL buses and at IFFCO Chowk Metro Station, Millennium City Centre Metro Station, Sector 52 Bus Depot, Sector 10 Bus Depot, Dundahera Bus Stop and Hero Honda Chowk Bus Stop.GMCBL has also enabled UPI-based fare payment across all Gurugaman buses. Conductors have been equipped with smart point-of-sale machines, allowing passengers to pay fares through any UPI-enabled mobile application. Officials said nearly 28% of fare collections are already made through digital payment modes and expect the share to increase further with the new facility.GMDA chief executive officer PC Meena said the induction of the first electric bus marks the beginning of a cleaner and more sustainable public transport system in the city. “GMCBL is continuously working to improve public transport through modern technology, digital services and environmentally sustainable mobility solutions to encourage greater use of city bus services,” he said.
