The Union Government will provide 100 electric buses for public transportation in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The buses will come to the city in the first week of August. The buses would have been received in January, but the Smart City had not established the charging station at the Jadhavwadi bus depot. Hence, the project was delayed, and it will be accomplished in August now. Moreover, the work of establishing the equipped charging station is in its final stages, sources said.

The city bus service is run by the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Smart City Corporation Ltd. The Smart City had received 100 diesel buses for passenger transportation in the city in 2018. The city passengers gave an overwhelming response to the service, and around 20,000 passengers are taking advantage of this service daily. The fares of the buses are also affordable.

Considering the increasing population of the city and the need for more buses to cater to the increasing number of passengers, Smart City had submitted a proposal for more buses through a special scheme of the Union Government. Accordingly, 100 electric buses were sanctioned for the city. However, the buses were not received in January, as there was no equipped charging station in the city.

Now, the work of the charging station is nearing completion, and the 100 e-buses for the city have been sanctioned. A private company appointed by the government will provide the buses. The company will also provide trained drivers for the e-buses to ensure effective and convenient passenger service. This company will also look after the repair, maintenance, and charging of the buses. The company will be paid Rs 63 for travelling a distance of one kilometre for each bus.

The diesel bus service started in 2018 is being run at a loss. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC) administration had deposited Rs 200 crore in the bank to compensate for the losses, which were withdrawn recently. Now, to compensate for the losses, CSMC pays Rs 60 lakh per month to the Smart City.

The work on the modernised and equipped bus depot at Jadhavwadi is in its final stages. The 100 diesel buses are parked here presently. The facilities for the new e-buses have been established here, and the work on the charging station is in the final stage. A 10 MV charging station will charge the buses at the depot.