Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired the first meeting of the recently constituted UT Level Steering Committee (UTLSC) to review the measures taken by the Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) for the deployment of these e-buses.
Additionally, he reviewed plans for establishing depots at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu and Bemina in Srinagar. He directed the Finance Department to assess the funding requirements for operating these buses to ensure timely financial allocation.
Earlier, Principal Secretary of the Finance Department, Santosh D. Vaidya, provided insights into the estimated costs of operating the buses, which are projected to be around Rs 42 crore annually based on prior experience with similar vehicles in Jammu and Srinagar.
During the meeting, Commissioner Secretary of H&UDD, Mandeep Kaur, informed attendees that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) had been prepared for the development of depot infrastructure in Jammu, estimated at Rs 16.72 crore, along with Rs 8.51 crore for “Behind-the-Meter Power Infrastructure,” which includes a 6.6-megawatt substation.
Similarly, the Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) has prepared a DPR for depot development, costing Rs 14.50 crore, while the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has prepared a DPR for behind-the-meter power infrastructure, valued at Rs 5.78 crore. These DPRs have been prepared in accordance with scheme regulations and have been approved by the Central Steering Committee (GoI) for execution.
It was further noted that the Central Assistance (CA) for e-bus operations in urban areas will be provided on a per-kilometer basis under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for 10 years or until March 2037, whichever is earlier.
The total operational cost of the e-bus fleet in Jammu is estimated to be Rs 628 crore over 10 years, with Rs 158 crore in subsidies and expected earnings of Rs 167 crore. Similarly, Srinagar’s operational costs are projected at Rs 686 crore, with Rs 177 crore in subsidies and Rs 167 crore in earnings, leaving a revenue gap of Rs 625 crore to be funded by the UT government over the next decade.
