Ranchi to Get 100 Electric Buses as Jharkhand Rolls Out 400-Bus Fleet Across Four Cities
Ranchi: Ranchi is set to receive 100 electric buses as part of a larger state-wide initiative to introduce 400 e-buses across four major cities in Jharkhand, according to a report by the Times of India. Alongside the bus rollout, the state has also submitted a revised metro rail proposal to the Centre, reviving hopes for a rapid transit system in the capital city.
The state’s urban development and housing department plans to deploy 100 electric buses each in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Bokaro, bringing the total fleet to 400 vehicles. The move is aimed at strengthening public transport infrastructure and reducing dependence on diesel-run buses in the state’s key urban centres.
State Urban Development Secretary Sunil Kumar told TOI that the project already has in-principle approval. He said that once the finance department and the urban development department give their formal go-ahead, a proposal will be forwarded to the Centre to procure the buses under the PM e-Bus Seva scheme.
The PM e-Bus Seva scheme is a central government initiative designed to support states in deploying electric buses for urban transport, and Jharkhand’s move to tap into the scheme suggests the state is looking to fast-track its public transport modernization plans with central assistance.
Revised Metro Plan Submitted for Ranchi
In a parallel development, the state government has renewed its push to secure approval for a metro rail system in Ranchi. An earlier proposal, which envisioned three corridors spanning a total of 51 km, failed to get clearance due to technical concerns raised during evaluation.
The new, scaled-down plan proposes a single 16 km metro corridor that would run through some of the city’s busiest and most congested stretches, including Kanke Road, Kutchehry Road, Main Road, Doranda and Hinoo. By focusing on a shorter, high-traffic corridor, the revised proposal appears designed to address the technical viability concerns that derailed the earlier, more expansive plan.
