Avinav Verma
Jammu: Jammu is set to expand its electric public transport network with the addition of 25 new 12-metre electric buses under the Centre’s PM-eBus Sewa Scheme, with the vehicles expected to be inducted soon following the signing of an agreement between Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) and PMI Electro Mobility Solutions Private Limited on Thursday.
The agreement marks the formal implementation of the first batch of additional electric buses allocated to Jammu under the scheme and comes as the city prepares to expand its existing electric public transport infrastructure.
The agreement was signed by JSCL Chief Executive Officer Dr Devansh Yadav on behalf of the Housing and Urban Development Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, and PMI Electro Mobility Solutions Private Limited COO–SPV Operations Chandra Kant Goyal. Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar was also present on the occasion.
Jammu currently operates 100 electric buses under the Smart City project. The addition of the 25 buses covered by the agreement will strengthen the existing fleet, while a further 75 electric buses have been proposed under PM-eBus Sewa.
Once the entire planned augmentation is completed, Jammu could have an electric-bus fleet of 200 vehicles — double its present strength.
The expansion is being accompanied by the development of dedicated infrastructure to support the larger fleet.
A separate depot for 100 electric buses is being developed at Bhagwati Nagar under PM-eBus Sewa. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah laid the foundation stone for the facility earlier this month as part of a package of urban development projects in Jammu.
The depot is being executed by Jammu Smart City Limited under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme/CAPEX at a cost of ₹23.04 crore.
The new facility will provide the infrastructure required for the operation and maintenance of the additional electric buses, including space for parking, charging and other fleet-related activities.
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The new depot is separate from the existing facility being used for the operation of Jammu’s present fleet of 100 electric buses.
Its development has assumed greater importance with the city’s electric fleet now set to expand. As more buses are inducted, additional charging, parking, maintenance and operational capacity will be required to keep the expanded network running efficiently.
While laying the foundation stone for the depot on August 6, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had emphasised the importance of the facility in supporting the induction of the new electric-bus fleet and strengthening Jammu’s public transport infrastructure.
Under PM-eBus Sewa, Jammu has been earmarked 100 additional electric buses. The agreement signed on Thursday covers the first 25 buses, all of which are 12-metre vehicles. The remaining 75 buses are proposed to be added subsequently, taking the total planned augmentation under the scheme to 100.
The unified procurement process for the additional buses is being managed at the national level by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). PMI Electro Mobility Solutions Private Limited will supply the first 25 buses covered by the agreement.
As part of Thursday’s programme, PMI officials also made a detailed presentation before Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and senior JSCL officials, showcasing the company’s electric-bus products and highlighting their features, including passenger-oriented aspects.
JSCL CEO Dr Devansh Yadav briefed the Divisional Commissioner on the PM-eBus Sewa project, the proposed fleet augmentation and the status of the associated infrastructure, particularly the development of the new Bhagwati Nagar depot.
“Jammu has already embarked on its journey towards electric mobility. Today’s agreement takes that journey further by adding 25 more electric buses to our existing fleet,” Yadav said.
“With the development of the Bhagwati Nagar Depot, we are also creating the infrastructure required to support the next generation of public transport,” he added.
Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar said expanding electric public transport was important for supporting Jammu’s rapid growth and improving the quality of urban mobility for citizens.
The latest agreement represents an expansion rather than a replacement of Jammu’s existing electric public transport system.
The city’s 100 operational electric buses have already established an electric mobility network, while the PM-eBus Sewa allocation provides an opportunity to substantially increase its scale.
The first 25 buses will provide the immediate addition to the fleet. The proposed 75 buses would subsequently take the planned addition under the scheme to 100.
This means that, subject to the full rollout, Jammu could eventually operate 200 electric buses.
