Soon, electric bus service connecting religious cities in UP

Varanasi: The Yogi govt is set to launch an electric AC bus service to connect major religious cities in Uttar Pradesh, including Kashi, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, and Sonbhadra. With charging stations coming up in Varanasi and Sonbhadra, the initiative aims to offer eco-friendly, comfortable travel for devotees while reducing pollution.

Parshuram Pandey, regional manager of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC), said that electric buses have been planned from Prayagraj and Ayodhya regions to Varanasi and Sonbhadra. For this, five charging stations are being set up — four at Varanasi Cantt depot workshop and one in Sonbhadra. The charging stations will be ready within a month to ensure that buses plying between these cities can recharge and return without issues.

Each electric bus will take about 30 minutes to fully charge and can travel up to 150 kilometres on a single charge. The air-conditioned electric buses can seat around 28 passengers. They will also be equipped with CCTV cameras, GPS systems, and panic buttons to ensure the safety of women passengers.