Kumar Bahukhandi
Urban Administration and Development Department Principal Secretary Sonmoni Borah (centre), Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Director Bhanu Pratap Singh Bhadauria (left) and SUDA CEO Sumit Agrawal (right) during the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme review meeting at Nava Raipur Atal Nagar on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.-Photo Credit:channel24india.com via CG/DPR
Sonmoni Borah calls for demand-based routes connecting schools, colleges, hospitals and markets; 240 buses approved for Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg and Korba
Key Highlights
- “E-bus routes must reflect the actual transport needs of cities and convenience of citizens,” says Sonmoni Borah
- 240 electric buses approved for Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg and Korba
- Schools, colleges, hospitals, markets and key institutions to be connected
- Passengers to get clear information on routes, stops and number of buses in operation
- Depots and charging infrastructure to be planned keeping future fleet expansion in mind
- Real-time monitoring through technology-based command-and-control systems
- Special e-bus services for women also discussed
- Centre stresses timely land selection and coordination with NHAI, Railways and other agencies
Raipur : Chhattisgarh is preparing to reshape public transport in four of its major cities with 240 electric buses approved for Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg and Korba under the Government of India’s PM-eBus Sewa Scheme.
Preparations for the ambitious rollout were reviewed at Nava Raipur Atal Nagar on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, by Urban Administration and Development Department Principal Secretary Sonmoni Borah and Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Director Bhanu Pratap Singh Bhadauria.
The review focused not merely on putting electric buses on the roads, but on developing an integrated public transport network covering routes, bus stops, depots, charging infrastructure and technology-based monitoring.
Borah stressed that route planning must begin with the needs of passengers.
“E-bus routes should be determined keeping in mind the actual transport requirements of cities and the convenience of citizens.”
He directed officials to give particular attention to routes connecting schools, colleges, hospitals, major markets, important institutions and other public-use destinations, so that the new service provides meaningful connectivity between different parts of each city.
Officials were asked to prepare both short-term and long-term route plans and undertake phased studies before finalising them. Passenger numbers, likely demand, distance and connectivity should determine whether a proposed route is viable, the meeting was told.
Urban Administration and Development Department Principal Secretary Sonmoni Borah (right) presents a memento to Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Director Bhanu Pratap Singh Bhadauria (left) following the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme review meeting at Nava Raipur Atal Nagar on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.-Photo Credit:channel24india.com via CG/DPR
Borah also emphasised that the success of the service would depend on how easily passengers could understand and use the network.
“Citizens should easily know how many e-buses are operating, the routes on which they are running and the stops on every route.”
He asked officials to prepare systematic route charts and make service-related information readily available to commuters.
‘Routes, Depots, Charging and Monitoring Must Be Developed as an Integrated System’
Borah said the various components of the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme could not be planned independently of one another.
“Route planning, bus operations, depots, charging infrastructure, bus stops and the command-and-control system must be developed in an integrated manner.”
Officials were directed to assess the requirements and available resources of each of the four cities separately and determine priorities accordingly. Borah also called for regular reporting and monitoring of progress.
The meeting discussed the possibility of introducing special bus services for women, including identifying suitable routes and operational arrangements keeping women’s convenience in mind.
Senior Central and Chhattisgarh government officials review preparations for the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme at Nava Raipur Atal Nagar on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Principal Secretary Sonmoni Borah is seated at the centre, with Union Ministry Director Bhanu Pratap Singh Bhadauria to his left and SUDA CEO Sumit Agrawal to his right-Photo Credit:channel24india.com via CG/DPR
Borah stressed that quality and practical feasibility should not be sacrificed in the race to meet deadlines. Potential hurdles relating to land, depots, charging facilities, routes and operations should be identified in advance and resolved within stipulated timelines.
He also asked planners to look beyond the initial allocation of buses while developing depots.
“Depot development should take into account the possibility that the number of e-buses may increase in future. Adequate capacity and necessary facilities must be planned accordingly.”
Charging requirements and the availability of supporting infrastructure should similarly be assessed and arrangements completed in time, he said.
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry Director Bhanu Pratap Singh Bhadauria emphasised timely selection of sites for depots, charging stations and other facilities.
He asked officials to coordinate with the National Highways Authority of India, Railways and other departments to secure necessary approvals and complete technical procedures for depots, civil works and related construction before bus operations commence.
Bhadauria also underlined the role of technology in managing the new fleet.
“Technology-based systems should enable effective real-time monitoring of bus operations, routes, passenger numbers and other important information.”
The command-and-control mechanism, he said, should be strengthened to provide effective operational oversight.
The meeting also examined manpower requirements and different operating models, with Borah and Bhadauria stressing better coordination between technology, human resources and available infrastructure.
Urban Administration and Development Director Nilesh Mahadev Kshirsagar, SUDA CEO Sumit Agrawal, CSPDCL Managing Director Bhim Singh Kanwar, Raipur Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sambit Mishra, Korba Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashutosh Pandey, Bilaspur Municipal Corporation Commissioner Prakash Kumar Sarve, NHAI Deputy General Manager Nitin Kumar Gupta, Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs ASO Himanshu Jain and other officials attended the meeting.
With 240 buses sanctioned, the programme represents a significant move towards cleaner urban mobility in Chhattisgarh. The challenge now is to ensure that the new electric fleet is backed by routes people actually need, adequate charging and depot infrastructure, and a digital monitoring system capable of making the service dependable and easy to use.
