Gorakhpur: The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation has begun trial runs of long-distance electric buses (e-buses) from Gorakhpur on key routes including Ayodhya, Sonauli and Tamkuhi Raj.Officials said a full-fledged rollout with a detailed timetable is expected within the next 10 days.A total of 20 e-buses will be deployed from two main bus stations, connecting Varanasi, Ayodhya and the Nepal-border town of Sonauli.Of these, nine buses are earmarked for Varanasi and three for Ayodhya, while services to Tamkuhi Raj and other routes will be finalised based on demand. To support operations, a high-tech charging station has been set up in Rapti Nagar.According to regional manager Lov Kumar Singh, trials are currently assessing the range of buses on a single charge. Early findings suggest that each bus can cover around 250 km per charge.Apart from being environment-friendly, the e-buses are expected to offer cheaper travel. While the average base fare for conventional buses stands at around ₹1.93 per km, e-buses are estimated to cost about ₹1.63 per km—translating into a saving of nearly ₹30 per 100 km for passengers.The initiative is part of the state government’s strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote sustainable mobility.Officials said the route planning is being aligned with chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision to strengthen connectivity across major cities and tourist destinations in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
