Bhopal e-buses to arrive next month to link with Metro | Bhopal News
Bhopal: Bhopal will deploy electric buses on city roads next month, timed to connect with metro routes and deliver greener, safer public travel. The first 40 e-buses will cover an average 40-km stretch across about 10 new routes. Overall, 26 new routes are planned to improve connectivity in and around Bhopal.The fare reduction is immediate for e-bus, CNG and diesel services. After Bhopal City Link Limited (BCLL) transferred to Madhya Pradesh Yatayat Pvt. Ltd. (MPYPIL), the additional road tax for buses crossing municipal limits was removed. The operator now pays less road tax when crossing limits.Currently, commuters traveling to Neelbad do not pay an additional cess, but fares rise substantially once the bus crosses into Ratibah or Sehore. BCLL sources say commuters can expect roughly a 20% drop in fares—a direct benefit for students, weekly commuters and workers.BCLL currently operates around 60 buses in the city against a core fleet target of nearly 400. With the new 40 e-buses arriving within weeks, the total bus count will rise. E-bus infrastructure is largely ready: depots are set, high-tension and low-tension power connections are in place, and 90% of civil work is complete, BCLL sources confirmed. “The e-bus operator must set up charging, but we are ready to go,” said an official at Bairagarh depot, seeking anonymity.Ten routes of 26 in first goThe longest of the new e0bus route will run Sehore to Ratapani, passing through Bariyargh, Collectorate, New Market, Vallabh Bhawan, MP Nagar, Chuna and Batti. The metro-linked network aims to connect educational institutes on the periphery to city centers, offering a cleaner, quieter ride and more reliable timing.BCLL expands beyond BhopalBhopal City Link Limited (BCLL) has been transferred to Madhya Pradesh Yatayat Pvt. Ltd. (MPYPIL). The BCLL CEO will become Executive Director while continuing to manage existing Bhopal district operations but under MPYPIL will expand city-bus outreach into Sehore, Raisen, Vidisha and Rajgarh, and increase coverage in Betul, Harda and Hosangabad districts. Officials say the move aims to improve route integration, reliability and last-mile connectivity for daily commuters. BCLL was set up as wholly owned BMC subsidiary.
