With e-buses, daily commute gets a quiet makeover in Panaji

Hindustan Times

16-05-2025

Panaji, A fleet of clean, comfortable and silent electric buses has brought about a paradigm shift in public transport in Panaji city, amid a growing number of residents embracing the change.
As part of the Centre's Smart City Mission, 48 such e-buses are crisscrossing the length and breadth of Goa's capital, ferrying thousands of commuters daily, under the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited project.
Jove Costa, Public Engagement Officer at IPSCDL, told PTI that several residents are ditching their private vehicles in favour of these electric buses.
The fleet, which includes 12-metre, 9-metre, and 7-metre buses, has been introduced by the state-run Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited, under the Panaji Smart City project being implemented by the Pramod Sawant government in Goa, he said.
Between July 2024 and March 2025, he said, nearly 1.7 million commuters travelled on these buses, which cumulatively covered 8.8 lakh km.
'People are happy with the convenience of using these buses for travel within the Panaji city,' Costa said.
The official said the introduction of digital modes of payment for tickets has helped boost ridership.
'About 33 per cent of the fares collected came in through digital means like UPI, debit or credit cards, and most importantly through our smart transit card where people make a one-time purchase and then recharge it,' he said. The official said that close to 19,500 smart cards have been generated for bus users.
'The upward trend in footfall indicates how people are accepting this smart mode of transport. It is smooth, low-cost, and helps cut down pollution too,' he said.
With more residents preferring to travel by these air-conditioned e-buses over their private cars and two-wheelers, the city roads have started getting decongested, the official said.
'The buses have helped lower emissions and fuel use, making daily travel cleaner. They have ramps to provide easier access to the physically challenged,' he said.
Commuter Laxmi Desai said the e-buses are very comfortable, and she is particularly happy as tickets can be bought through UPI.
'It's very good for those who don't carry cash. The buses are nice and air-conditioned, so we don't feel stressed,' she said.
Ashok Shetty, a businessman from Panaji, lauded the initiative. 'We now don't have to travel by bike or car,' he said. Like Desai, he said he also finds the UPI option convenient.
'I urge people to use these e-buses, which reduce traffic jams and pollution,' he added.