Uttar Pradesh government has approved 1,725 air-conditioned electric buses on the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model in 18 cities of the state.
File Photo: IANS
Uttar Pradesh government has approved 1,725 air-conditioned electric buses on the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model in 18 cities of the state.
The decision was taken in the state cabinet meeting here on Wednesday.This ambitious plan aims to modernize the urban transport system, making it environmentally and passenger-friendly.
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Under the scheme, a total of 1,725 AC e-buses in the 9-meter and 12-meter categories will operate in Agra, Aligarh, Ayodhya, Bareilly, Firozabad, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura-Vrindavan, Meerut, Moradabad, Prayagraj, Shahjahanpur, Saharanpur, Varanasi, and Noida (including Jewar). Private operators will run these buses under the GCC model, with a contract period of 12 years from the date of commercial operation. Giving details of the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting, Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna stated that the Cabinet approved a total of 24 proposals.
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Under the GCC model, private operators will be fully responsible for purchasing the buses, establishing charging infrastructure, ensuring the availability of drivers and technical personnel, and operating and maintaining the buses. They will receive operating and maintenance fees based on prescribed standards. The scheme will also provide a subsidy of ₹40 lakh per 12-meter e-bus and ₹35 lakh per 9-meter e-bus.
Land for the construction of the Noida Authority will provide land for constructing the required depots free of charge. Fares and user fees will determine fares and user fees. This scheme will significantly improve public transportation quality, reduce pollution, and provide passengers with comfortable, safe, and timely transportation.
Furthermore, private investment will reduce government financial burden and strengthen the modern urban transportation system in the state’s cities. It is noteworthy that the Directorate of Urban Transport currently operates 743 electric buses in 15 municipal corporations.
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