No plan for e-buses on Jammu-Billawar, Sukrala Mata routes: Sharma

Srinagar, Mar 20: Minister for FCS&CA, Transport, Youth Services and Sports, Information Technology, Science and Technology, ARI & Training Satish Sharma on Thursday informed the Assembly that the government has no plan to introduce e-buses on Jammu-Billawar and Shri Sukrala Mata routes due to the long distance involved.
The statement came in response to a question raised by MLA Billawar Satish Kumar Sharma, who sought information on the steps being taken to improve public transport on these routes and whether there is a strategic roadmap for introducing e-buses.
Responding to this, Sharma said, “Presently, JKRTC is operating diesel buses on the Jammu-Machedi via Billawar and Jammu-Sukrala Mata via Surinsar Mansar routes.” He explained that the existing fleet of e-buses is meant for city operations with a limited range of 80 to 90 km on a full charge.
“Jammu to Billawar and back covers 248 km, while Jammu to Shri Sukrala Mata via Dayalachak and back is 252 km,” the minister said. He clarified that the range limitations of e-buses make them unsuitable for such long-distance routes.
The minister said there is no strategic plan to introduce e-buses on these routes at present, but JKRTC will continue to serve the area with diesel buses.