100 e-buses to hit city roads soon

Around 100 electric buses will soon begin operations in Amritsar, running along the 31-kilometre Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor, as well as the outer bypass and ring road. Instead of reintroducing traditional Metro buses on the BRTS corridor, local authorities have planned to launch e-buses to serve this route. The BRTS service has been largely non-functional for the past two years, with only five buses currently operating on a trial basis, a move initiated ahead of the municipal corporation elections in January.

As part of a larger effort to modernise public transport and reduce pollution, the Central government, in partnership with the state government, has approved Rs 150 crore for the project under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme. Amritsar will receive 100 of the 347 electric buses allocated to Punjab, with other cities including Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala also set to benefit. Half of the e-buses will operate on intra-city routes, while the remaining 50 will serve suburban and rural areas, including routes to Beas and Jandiala.

To support the new fleet, two depots, Maal Mandi City Bus Workshop and Verka Bypass BRTS Depot, are being upgraded with charging stations, high-voltage transformers and maintenance facilities. Renovation of the Maal Mandi depot is currently underway at an estimated cost of Rs 3.63 crore. The project has reached the tendering stage and officials claim that if all goes as planned, the buses could become operational within this year.

This initiative follows the failure of previous public transport schemes, such as the city bus service and BRTS, which struggled due to poor utilisation. Local activist Er Pawan Sharma has raised concerns, stating that officials should be held accountable for past shortcomings before launching new services. “Without proper planning and accountability, these e-buses may also be taken off the roads soon,” he warned.

The introduction of electric buses is expected to offer a cleaner, more efficient commuting option while helping to reduce the city’s carbon footprint. The authorities are hopeful that this move will mark a new beginning for city’s public transportation system.

Amritsar