Sustainable transportation: E-bus services inaugurated in Jammu

Jammu witnessed a significant step towards sustainable transportation as Rahul Yadav, CEO of Jammu Smart City, inaugurated an electric bus service on 29 February, catering to locals and tourists travelling from Jammu to the Suchetgarh border. This initiative coincided with the Border Security Force's (BSF) extension of the beating retreat ceremony at Border Outpost Octroi near the International Border in Suchetgarh, increasing its frequency from weekends to four days a week - Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. The beating retreat ceremony, reminiscent of the Wagah-Attari style, featuring a structured parade by BSF personnel, was initiated in October 2021 as part of the government's efforts to promote border tourism. Rahul Yadav emphasised the eco-friendly nature of the electric bus service, stating, The electric bus of Jammu Smart City will ferry local people and tourists from Jammu Bus stand to Suchetgarh border and vice-versa. This initiative aims to provide an eco-friendly transit option for locals and tourists. The service will operate on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Explaining the operational details, Yadav mentioned, It will depart from Jammu bus stand at around 2.30 PM towards Suchetgarh border for sightseeing and will return to the starting point after the conclusion of the retreat ceremony at Octroi Post, Suchetgarh. In January, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched fully air-conditioned electric buses for Jammu, with 25 buses measuring 12 meters long and 75 measuring nine meters long. Since their introduction, these electric buses have garnered a positive response from the public. As part of the contract, Tata Motors will supply, operate, and maintain 100 electric buses in the city for 12 years. Additionally, transportation technology company 'Chalo Mobility' will provide consumer technology solutions for electronic ticketing and fare collection.