Srinagar- The newly introduced Smart e-buses in Srinagar have arrived with a much needed relief for city dwellers who were otherwise forced to push and shove in crammed old TATA minibuses and Sumos for decades as the successive regimes had failed to provide a proper public transport system for the city.
The Smart-e-buses equipped with state-of-the-art features like ultra high definition dash cam, stop push button and smart boarding and deboarding facilities for the individuals with disabilities, are about to provide the people of Srinagar a whole new travel experience.
The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha this week unveiled a fleet of 75 electric buses in Srinagar, and another 25 buses would be added in the next few days, officials say.
The zero-emission eco-friendly buses, according to Athar Amir Khan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Srinagar Smart City Ltd, would initially operate on 15 designated routes in Srinagar and become a regular feature after their formal introduction.
The commuters, he claimed, will be enjoying a whole new travel experience since the first of its kind electric buses, launched under the Electric Bus Project in Kashmir.
Fitted with stop push button and UHD dash cam, in addition to the smart boarding and deboarding facilities for the persons with disabilities, these buses will only stop on the designated bus stops.
Besides, a commuter with the help of a tracker app will be able to see the location of the bus and the estimated time of arrival on his handset. Commuters, officials said, could reserve their seats using the tracker app.
The smart electric buses, CEO SSCL said would thereafter be stationed in the districts of Anantnag and Baramulla. He said the buses will run on the designated bus stops in Srinagar.
“In addition to providing room for commuters at each stop, the smart electric buses will travel on the 15 selected routes every 20 minutes. Nearly all necessary routes have been covered, and not a single route remains in Srinagar,” Athar Amir Khan told Kashmir Observer.
CCTV surveillance in e-buses will help reduce the fear of crime, reassure passengers about their safety, aid in crime prevention, and most importantly, prevent unlawful behaviour and inappropriate conduct, he said, adding the elevators and ramps on the smart buses can accommodate wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, and elderly.
The first of its kind all-weather electric buses, launched under the Electric Bus Project in Kashmir are fully air conditioned to maintain a comfortable temperature with panic buttons and UHD cameras installed in the bus, including one at the front, rear, and next to the driver’s seat.
The electric buses which will operate till late in the evening, allowing commuters to enjoy a lively nightlife, officials said have also seats reserved for ladies.
The routes designated by the authorities for the electric buses in Srinagar include
Route 1: TRC to Pandach via Sangarrnall, Fountain Crossing, Bishember Nagar, Napura, Rainawari, Saida Kadal, Nigeen, Hazratbal University, Habak Crossing, Zakura, Pandach and back via the same route.
Route 2: TRC to Harwan via Dalgate, Badyari Chowk, Nehru Park. Cheshma Shahi, Brein, Nishat, Shalimar, Harwan and back via the same route.
Route 3: Nowgam Railway Station to TRC via Sonwar and back via the same route.
Route 4: TRC to Soura via Sangarmall, Munawarabad, Nowhata, Gojwara, Hawai, Alamgari Bazar, Mill Stop, Nowshera, Soura and back via the same route.
Route 5: TRC to Soura via Jehangir Chowk, Batamaloo, Karan Nagar (SMHS.), Eidgah, Ali Jan Road, Soura and Back via the same route.
Route 6: Batamaloo to Ganderbal via Qamarwari, Cement Kadal, Noor Bagh, Sekidafar, Ali Jan Road, Soura, 90ft Road, Nagabal, Darend, Beehama, Ganderbal and back via the same route.
Route 7: Chadoora to Rambagh (Era Complex) via Karlpora. Muchowa, Bagh-e-Mehtab, Chanapora, Natipora, Ram Bagh and back via the same route.
Route 8: Hazratbal to Batamaloo Road via Nigeen, Rainawari, Khanyar, Babademb, Fatah Kadal, Syed Mansoor Chowk, Batamaloo and back via the same Route.
Route 9: Batamaloo to Budgam via Batamaloo, Jehangir Chowk, Rambagh, Parraypora, Hyderpora, Humhama, Ompora, Budgam and back via the same route.
Route 10: Batamaloo to Airport via Jehangir Chowk, Rambagh, Parraypora, Hyderpora, Humhama, Airport and back via the same route.
Route 11: Rangreth to Rambagh via Rawalpora, Sanat Nagar, Baghat Barzulla, Rambagh and back via the same route.
Route 12 (Circular Route): Batamaloo, Bemina Byepass, Parimpora, Qamarwari, Cement Bridge, Noor Bagh, Sakidafar, Rajouri Kadal, Bohri Kadal, Munawarabad, M A Road, Jehangir Chowk, Batamaloo.
Route 13: TRC to Budgam Via Mominabad, Bemina Bypass, Khomeini Chowk, Mirgund, DC Office, Budgam Bus Stand and back via the same route.
Route 14: Batamaloo to Hazratbal via Doodh Ganga Road, Chotta Bazar, Syed Mansoor Chowk, Nai Sadak, Nawakadal, Rajouri Kadal, Gojwara, Hawal, Alamgari Bazar, Mill Stop, Botakadal, Lal Bazar, Saderabal. Hazratbal university and back via the same route.
Route 15: Hawal Jamia Masjid, Munawarabad, TRC, Abdullah Bridge, Raj Bagh, Wazir Bagh, Jehangir Chowk, Batamaloo, Qamarwari, Noor Bagh, Eidgah, Aali Masjid, Hawal, Alamgari Bazar, Nowshehra, Soura and back via the same route.
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