Chandigarh, 14 February 2026:The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, today virtually flagged off 25 Electric Buses for the city of Chandigarh from Guwahati under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme. The event was held in the august presence of Governor of Punjab & Administrator of UT Chandigarh, Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria. Also, present were Sh. Saurabh Joshi, Mayor, UT Chandigarh, Sh. H. Rajesh Prasad, Chief Secretary, UT Chandigarh, Sh. Mandip Singh Brar, Home Secretary, Sh. Diprava Lakra, Secretary Transport, and Sh. Pradhuman Singh, Director Transport, UT Chandigarh and other officials of UT Chandigarh.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Govt of India has sanctioned 428 buses for the City of Chandigarh under PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme. For first lot of 100 buses, Convergence Energy Services Limited under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Govt of India had invited e-Tender for Hiring of buses for the city of Chandigarh and accordingly Agreement has been signed @ Rs 61.80 per KM with the Lowest Operator by Chandigarh Administration. Under the Hiring Model Procurement, Maintenance and Operation is done by the Operator and Department collects the Fare Revenue.

As Chandigarh Administration is striving towards Green Transport as such as on date, in the Chandigarh City, 80 electric buses are under Operation and after adding today’s 25 Flagged Off buses, total 105 buses will be in operation in Chandigarh. After delivery of rest of 75 buses there will be total 180 electric buses by the end of April/May 2026.

The newly inducted 12-metre low-floor air-conditioned electric buses have a range of 224 km on a single charge. Key features include a 400 mm low floor for easy boarding, especially for senior citizens, children and women; a power-operated ramp and electronically controlled kneeling mechanism for Divyangjan commuters; seating capacity of 36 passengers plus driver and wheelchair space, with standing capacity of 20 passengers; air suspension at front and rear; disc brakes at the front; passenger information displays at the front, side and rear; and voice-enabled next stop announcements.

For enhanced safety and monitoring, the buses are equipped with people-counting cameras at both doors, five CCTV cameras (including passenger area, driver behaviour, reverse and dashboard views), AIS-140 compliant GPS devices, panic buttons integrated with the Command Control Centre of the State Transport Authority, and stop request buttons for passenger convenience.

The 25 buses flagged off today will operate on the following routes:
* Route No. 22 – ISBT-43 to IT Park and vice versa
* Route No. 30A – ISBT-43 to Cantonment and vice versa
* Route No. 240 – ISBT-43 to Mata Mansa Devi via Sector 43/44 & Kisan Bhawan and vice versa
* Route No. 241 – ISBT-43 to Mata Mansa Devi via Sector 52/53 & YPS Chowk and vice versa

Chandigarh Administration remains committed to promoting green and eco-friendly public transport. By the end of FY 2027–28, all diesel buses operating within the tri-city area will be replaced with electric buses. In addition, 70 more buses will be added to strengthen the fleet. This will take the total number of electric buses in Chandigarh to 508, significantly reducing carbon emissions, improving urban mobility and enhancing the quality of life for citizens.