Srinagar’s eco-friendly city bus service, launched in November 2023, has seen substantial growth, with 61.33 lakh passengers transported between January and November 2024.
The service operates across 16 routes, with an average of 30,000 daily riders.
September recorded the highest passenger count, over 7.2 lakh, while August saw more than 6.8 lakh passengers. In its inaugural month, November 2023, the service had 1.3 lakh passengers, rising to over 3.25 lakh by December 2023.
The fleet includes 100 electric buses, consisting of 75 nine-metre and 25 twelve-metre variants, with two additional buses on standby.
The buses feature advanced amenities such as air conditioning, air curtains, inbuilt CCTV surveillance for enhanced safety, and elevators and ramps for passengers with limited mobility.
Each bus is also equipped with a panic button connected to a command centre for emergencies.
Commuters can track the buses in real-time using a smartphone app. The goal is to have a bus available at each stop every 25 minutes, though it may take some time to achieve. The 14 defined routes for these buses include:
1. TRC to Pandach via various stops
2. TRC to Harwan via various stops
3A. Panta Chowk to TRC
3B. TRC to Soura via various stops
5. Pantha Chowk to Railway Station
5B. Chadoora to Rambagh (Era Complex) via various stops
6A. Hazratbal to Batamaloo Road via various stops
6B. Batamaloo to Budgam via various stops
7. Batamaloo to Airport via various stops
8. Rangreth to Rambagh via various stops
9 (Circular Route). Batamaloo, Bemina Byepass, Parimpora, and more
10. TRC to Budgam via various stops
11. Batamaloo to Hazratbal via various stops
12A. Hawal Jamia Masjid, Munawarabad, TRC, and more
The Integrated Public Transport System, which outlines bus routes, stops, depots, and charging stations, is designed to streamline the service.
Additionally, officials plan to build 360 modern bus stops, equipped with real-time updates and route maps, with work set to begin next month.