Commuters in Bhopal are set to get more electric buses from Monday, August 24, with 10 additional buses being added to the city's existing fleet. The number of operational e-buses will rise from 20 to 30, with services expected every 10 to 15 minutes on the three existing routes.

The expansion is expected to improve connectivity between key areas including Kolar Road, Bawadiya Kalan, Bairagarh, MP Nagar and the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT). All three routes pass through MP Nagar, making the service particularly useful for office-goers and students travelling to one of the city's major commercial and educational hubs.

At present, 20 electric buses are operating on three routes covering several parts of the city. These include Bairagarh, Kolar Road, MP Nagar, New Market, Bawadiya Kalan, Salaiya, Rohit Nagar, Ashoka Garden, Subhash Nagar, Kohefiza and Peer Gate. The minimum fare is around Rs 6-7, while the maximum fare is Rs 40.

10,000-12,000 Daily Passengers

The number of passengers using the electric bus service has increased with the expansion of the fleet. According to the information provided, around 10,000 to 12,000 passengers currently travel on the e-buses every day.

Ten buses were added to the fleet last week, taking the operational strength to 20. With another 10 buses being introduced from August 24, passengers are expected to get more frequent services on the existing routes.

Three Routes Cover Major Areas

The B35 route operates between Chirayu Hospital in Bairagarh and Aakriti Eco City in Salaiya. It passes through Bairagarh Market, Lalghati, Collectorate, Hamidia Hospital, Royal Market, Peer Gate, Kamla Park, Polytechnic Square, Rangmahal Square, Roshanpura, Link Road No. 1, MP Nagar Metro Station, Board Office, Vitthan Market, 1100 Quarters, Rohit Nagar and Bawadiya Square.

The B36 route connects Coach Factory with Kolar Road. It covers Bhopal Railway Station, Pushpa Nagar, Ashoka Garden, Subhash Nagar, Chetak Bridge, Board Office, MP Nagar, Vitthan Market, Manisha Market, Bansal Hospital, Chunabhatti, Mandakini Square, Nayapura, Lalita Nagar, Gehun Kheda and Bairagarh Chichli.

The B37 route runs from the Bairagarh e-bus depot to ISBT. Major stops on the route include Lalghati, Collectorate, Hamidia Hospital, Royal Market, Shahjahanabad, Nadra Bus Stand, Bharat Talkies, Jahangirabad, PHQ, Malviya Nagar, Minto Hall, Birla Mandir, Vallabh Bhawan, District Court, DB Mall and Chetak Bridge.

Accessibility Features for Disabled Passengers

One of the key features of the electric buses is the provision of hydraulic doors to assist passengers with disabilities. The arrangement allows people using wheelchairs and tricycles to board and exit the buses more easily.

The space opposite the hydraulic door is also designed to accommodate two wheelchairs or tricycles at the same time, according to the information provided.

Smaller Size May Help in Traffic

The e-buses are around nine metres long and approximately 3.5 metres wide. This makes them smaller than conventional city buses, which can be up to 12 metres long.

The relatively compact size is expected to help the buses navigate narrower roads and congested stretches of Bhopal more easily. However, traffic congestion could still affect services on some routes.

With the fleet increasing to 30 buses from August 24, the higher frequency is expected to make public transport more convenient for daily commuters while improving connectivity between residential areas, commercial centres, railway stations and major transit points across Bhopal.