New Electric Buses to Remove Luggage Boxes, Seating Capacity to Increase to 32
Dharamshala: The new electric buses set to be introduced in the state will undergo modifications to increase passenger capacity. The luggage storage boxes currently installed inside the buses will be removed and replaced with two additional seats. With this change, the seating capacity of each bus will increase to 32 passengers. Moreover, passengers seated at the rear will now have a clearer forward view.
The state government is planning necessary improvements in the incoming electric buses to enhance passenger capacity. Around a dozen modifications are expected to be made to the trial buses, and these suggestions will soon be formally communicated to the concerned manufacturing company.
The average range of these electric buses is reported to be 180 kilometers on a single charge. However, in hilly tourist destinations like Dharamshala, the average range recorded so far has been around 173–174 kilometers. By April, nearly 50 percent of the electric buses are expected to arrive in Himachal Pradesh. Each electric bus costs approximately ₹1.71 crore, and its maintenance will be handled by the respective bus company.
Vice Chairman of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), Ajay Verma, inspected the new electric bus model that reached Dharamshala for trial on Monday. He stated that trial runs are being conducted across the state, and any shortcomings identified during the process will be conveyed to the manufacturer.
Verma further mentioned that while the expected average during the trial is around 180 kilometers, departmental officials in Shimla have reported an average of approximately 173–174 kilometers in certain areas. One of the key highlights of the new buses is their improved battery performance. Earlier electric buses could run only 120–125 kilometers after charging, but the new models are expected to cover up to 180 kilometers on a single charge with faster charging capability.
Regarding route operations, Verma said that discussions are ongoing, and the department’s Divisional Managers (DMs) and Regional Managers (RMs) are working on finalizing the routes. Efforts are being made to operate these buses up to Pathankot and Hoshiarpur.
