Bhopal To Roll Out Electric Buses On New Routes, In Line With Metro Connectivity Plans

Bhopal is set to introduce electric buses on city roads next month, aligning the rollout with metro connectivity plans to enhance urban mobility with cleaner and more efficient transport options. The first batch of 40 electric buses will operate across nearly 10 newly planned routes, each covering an average distance of around 40 km. In total, 26 new routes are being developed to strengthen connectivity within the city and surrounding areas, Times of India reported.

A reduction in fares has already been implemented for electric, CNG and diesel bus services. The revision follows the transition of operations from Bhopal City Link Limited to Madhya Pradesh Yatayat Pvt. Ltd., after which the additional road tax applicable on buses crossing municipal limits was removed. This change has lowered operational costs for the operator.

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At present, passengers travelling to Neelbad do not incur an extra cess, but fares increase significantly once buses move towards Ratibah or Sehore. Officials indicate that commuters could see fare reductions of around 20 per cent, benefiting students, daily commuters and workers.

The city’s current fleet stands at around 60 buses against a target of nearly 400. With the addition of 40 electric buses in the coming weeks, the overall fleet size is expected to increase.

Infrastructure to support electric buses is largely in place. Depots have been prepared, high-tension and low-tension power connections have been established, and about 90 per cent of civil work has been completed, according to sources. Charging infrastructure will be set up by the operator.

Among the planned routes, the longest is expected to connect Sehore to Ratapani, passing through key locations such as Bairagarh, Collectorate, New Market, Vallabh Bhawan, MP Nagar, Chuna and Batti. The network is designed to link peripheral educational institutions with city centres, offering improved reliability along with quieter and cleaner transport.