Gurgaon: Even as the first batch of electric buses is yet to hit the city roads, GMCBL has started the process to expand its planned fleet.GMCBL has sought 500 more electric buses from the Centre to address the city’s widening public transport deficit. Officials said GMCBL — through MCG — has submitted the requirement proposal for additional electric buses to the ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) under the Urban Challenge Fund.This comes amid growing concerns over inadequate public transport infrastructure in the city, where commuters continue to rely heavily on private vehicles and app-based cabs due to the unreliable bus services, worsening congestion and pollution levels.According to officials, the proposal has been prepared keeping in view the city’s growing population, rising vehicular congestion and the need to strengthen urban mobility and last-mile connectivity.GMCBL CEO Vishwajeet Choudhary told TOI, “The proposal has been submitted to improve urban mobility and ensure accessible, end-to-end public transport connectivity across the city. With the expansion of urban areas, efforts are being made to improve the city bus fleet and provide reliable public transport to commuters.”As per MoHUA guidelines, cities with a population above 20 lakh should have at least 50 buses per lakh population to ensure adequate public transport coverage. With Gurgaon’s population estimated to be nearly 25 lakh, the city ideally requires around 1,250 buses. However, it is currently managing barely over 12% of the required fleet strength.At present, GMCBL has around 200 buses, of which 50 are currently operating in Faridabad following directions from the state govt. With fewer than 150 buses effectively available for Gurgaon, public transport coverage remains sparse in several parts of the city. Many of the existing buses are ageing and prone to frequent breakdowns, affecting service reliability and commuter confidence.GMCBL officials said that the first batch of e-buses is likely to be added to the fleet by next month. The city saw the last addition of eight CNG buses equipped with AC in 2021. In Feb, the state govt approved the acquisition of electric buses for Gurgaon.In Sept last year, Convergence Energy Services Ltd finalised a concessionaire for the procurement, operation and maintenance of 200 electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa Phase-I initiative. Of these, 100 buses were earmarked for Gurgaon and 100 for Faridabad.However, officials said Faridabad is yet to develop the required charging and depot infrastructure. As a result, buses allocated to Faridabad are now expected to operate in Gurgaon, increasing the number of e-buses likely to be introduced in the city.GMCBL officials said preparations to integrate the new electric fleet are already underway. A charging substation has been installed at the Sector 10 depot, while the selected concessionaire is currently developing charging bays and related infrastructure.Simultaneously, work on another bus depot in Sector 48 is nearing completion. According to a GMDA official, nearly 96% of the construction work is completed and the facility is expected to be commissioned next month. “The infrastructure required for operating electric buses is being put in place. Once operational, the new fleet will improve the reach of public transport services in Gurgaon,” the official added.
