Mahakumbh Nagar, January 4: The Yogi government is set to introduce electric buses to ensure convenient transport services for devotees during Mahakumbh. Prior to the event, 10 to 15 electric buses will begin operations in Prayagraj. Additionally, 30 more buses will be dispatched from the Lucknow headquarters to Prayagraj ahead of the main bathing festival, Mauni Amavasya, on January 29.
Electric buses will operate on various routes to provide seamless transport services to devotees, making their journey more convenient. With crores of people expected to attend the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26, these buses are set to play a crucial role in managing transportation during the event.
Ajit Kumar Singh, GM Technical of Uttar Pradesh Transport Corporation, stated, “Before the start of the Mahakumbh Mela, 10 to 15 electric buses will begin operations in Prayagraj. Additionally, around 30 to 40 buses will arrive in Prayagraj before the Mauni Amavasya festival.”
He further explained that the buses are being supplied by Switch Mobility. Each bus is 12 meters long and can run for more than 200 kilometers on a single charge.
Singh mentioned that the new electric buses allocated to the Transport Corporation are being directly dispatched to the Prayagraj area. Previously, pre-delivery inspections were conducted in Kanpur, but considering the Mahakumbh Mela, these inspections will now be carried out in the Prayagraj region under the Prayag Depot.
After registration, the buses will be deployed in Prayagraj. He added that the Regional Manager of Prayagraj has already identified the routes on which these buses will operate.
MK Trivedi, Regional Manager of the Prayagraj region, stated that a comprehensive route plan has been prepared for electric buses, covering both city and intercity routes. He mentioned that charging facilities have been arranged at four locations in Prayagraj, including Nehru Park, Bela Kachhar, and Andawa.
“The routes for these buses have been finalized in coordination with the fair administration and police. On peak days, buses will operate on six routes, while on normal days, they will run on 11 routes,” he added. Trivedi assured that the operation of the buses will commence immediately upon their arrival.
In the second phase, the Transport Department plans to introduce double-decker buses alongside other electric buses. A total of 120 electric buses are expected in this phase, including 20 double-decker buses and 100 buses of 9-meter and 12-meter lengths.
The double-decker buses will be supplied by Switch Mobility, while Pinnacle Mobility Pvt. Ltd. will deliver the remaining two types. However, it may be challenging to operate these buses during the Mahakumbh.
