Need to expand routes

The Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) has not only brought transformative change in redesigning the projects, but has also provided an alternative to the people to have a safe journey by introducing the eco-friendly city bus service, which has become the first choice for the travelers across the Srinagar areas. As far as the reports are concerned, the flow of passengers has increased in these electric buses with an average of 30,000 people boarding on a daily basis across 16 operational routes. The eco-friendly public transport system was launched in November 2023 and has now witnessed a remarkable growth in commuting, transporting 61,33,160 commuters from January to November this year. According to the data, in September alone, the service recorded its highest passenger count of over 7.2 lakh, followed by August with over 6.82 lakh passengers. The bus fleet includes 100 electric buses, with 75 nine-meter and 25 twelve-meter variants, with two additional buses kept on standby to address potential breakdowns. The increasing number of passengers in these electric buses indicates how people-friendly initiative has been so far as the passengers prefer to travel in these e-buses, which not help them to reach their destinations, but also help them in saving their money. Such an initiative has been hailed by the common masses, but it is the time when the government should consider to introduce these buses for the long routes so that the journey of people will be hassle free and they could heave a sigh of relief from the exorbitant rates, which they are paying and simultaneously help in balancing the environment as well.