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Time of India
25-07-2025
- Time of India
Opening of Heerapura bus terminal may be delayed by a month
1 2 Jaipur: Although the state govt plans to start operations from the Heerapura bus terminal in Aug, it seems it will take at least another month to make this terminal operational. On Tuesday, when Team TOI visited the bus terminal, it was found that the Rajasthan State Bus Terminal Development Authority (RSBTDA) is yet to construct roads inside the terminal leading to the bus bays and parking bays from the exit and entry gates. However, work on the bus shed inside the terminal is almost complete, as workers were constructing the last few of the 16-odd bus bays and were erecting the benches and the ticket counters. RSBTDA officials said there were several decisions by the state govt centring on this bus terminal in the last year. Finally, the govt asked the authority to complete the remaining jobs in early April. "The JDA is doing the construction work. We are sorting a few issues with the National Highways Development Authroity of India (NHAI), while the RTO is in talks with the operators. The works are going on at full pace. We are trying to make this terminal ready for operations as soon as possible," stated Shubhra Singh, the chairperson of RSBTDC. Although there is sufficient space for the long-distance buses to take a U-turn from the underpass of the Kamla Nehru Nagar flyover and reach this bus terminal, locals are apprehensive about a bottleneck on the service lane. The vehicles for last-mile connectivity, including JCTSL and minibuses, will have to travel at least five to six kilometre through these lanes to reach the underpass of the Bhankrota flyover. "There is a cut right within 100 metres from the exit gate of the bus terminal for buses to climb the Ajmer-bound flank of the Ajmer Expressway But vehicles travelling towards Jaipur from this terminal must take a U-turn from the underpass of the next Bhankrota flyover. There's no cut on the highway before the Bhankrota flyover. It means these vehicles would travel to the underpass of the Bhankrota flyover through the already congested side lane," said Amit Mishra, a local resident. NHAI said, the state govt would decide on how the traffic would flow in and out of this terminal. "There are three different bays, each of four lanes, to allow traffic movement in these three directions through the underpass of the newly constructed Bhankrota flyover. The rest remains on the traffic and transport department, whether they want to allow Jaipur-bound traffic through the service lanes or through the main flank (Ajmer-bound) of the Expressway," a NHAI official added.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
RSRTC floats third tender for 300 electric buses, aims full transition on NCR routes by 2026
The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation ( RSRTC ) has floated a fresh tender — the third in a series — to procure 300 electric buses for operation within the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), Times of India reports. The move is part of the state-run transport body's broader plan to phase out its current diesel-powered fleet in favour of cleaner, electric alternatives. Officials said the latest tender has been designed with two components: one that includes charging infrastructure for the EVs and another that excludes it. Operators will be taken on contract and paid up to ₹60 per kilometre. This tender follows earlier unsuccessful attempts in December 2024 and May 2025. "Due to the two-fold nature of the tender, we have not received the kind of bids we anticipated. However, we're hopeful that this round will generate better participation. The 300 EVs were part of the commitment made in the state budget," said a senior RSRTC official. A long term strategy The corporation plans to replace a total of 900 diesel buses on NCR routes with electric vehicles by June 2026 in accordance with guidelines issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Officials said the current tender is a part of that broader strategy. In addition to this, RSRTC is also pursuing the procurement of another 600 EV buses under the central government's PM E-Drive scheme . 'Although the scheme is primarily designed for intra-city operations, we have made a special request to the Centre for inclusion under intercity operations, explaining the needs of RSRTC,' said RSRTC chairperson Shubhra Singh. The state government has extended a sovereign guarantee for these 600 buses under PM E-Drive, reinforcing its commitment to cleaner public transport and enhanced air quality in the region.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
RSRTC issues third tender to procure 300 EV buses for Delhi-NCR routes, ET Infra
Advt The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) has issued a tender for the third time to procure electric vehicle buses. The corporation plans to acquire 300 electric buses which are to be deployed on routes within the National Capital Region (NCR). Officials said that electric buses will be taken on contract, and bus operators will be paid up to ₹60 per km. Before this, tenders were invited in December 2024 and May 2025. Officials added that the tender for 300 buses is two-fold: one with the infrastructure for charging the buses and the second without charging infrastructure. The corporation aims to procure a total of 900 EVs, which will replace the existing diesel-based fleet used for these routes. For the initial 300 buses, RSRTC has floated the tender, said officials."Due to the two-fold nature of the tender, we have not received bids as expected till now. The tender has been floated for the 300 EVs that were announced in the state budget. By next month, we'll be able to understand what the response of the bidders is," said a senior said that by June 2026, RSRTC will replace all its 900 buses currently plying on the Delhi-NCR routes with EV buses complying with the guidelines of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The corporation is also working on procuring 600 EV buses as part of a central government scheme, PM E-Drive, for which the state government has also given the sovereign guarantee, said officials."The PM E-Drive, which is the scheme of the Department of Heavy Industries, is primarily for intra-city operations, but we have requested the central government to allow us to procure buses under this scheme due to the requirements, explaining our situation," said Shubhra Singh, RSRTC chairperson.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
RSRTC floats tender for third time to buy electric buses
Jaipur: The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) has issued a tender for the third time to procure electric vehicle buses. The corporation plans to acquire 300 electric buses which are to be deployed on routes within the National Capital Region (NCR). Officials said that electric buses will be taken on contract, and bus operators will be paid up to Rs 60 per km. Before this, tenders were invited in Dec 2024 and May 2025. Officials added that the tender for 300 buses is two-fold: one with the infrastructure for charging the buses and the second without charging infrastructure. The corporation aims to procure a total of 900 EVs, which will replace the existing diesel-based fleet used for these routes. For the initial 300 buses, RSRTC has floated the tender, said officials. "Due to the two-fold nature of the tender, we have not received bids as expected till now. The tender has been floated for the 300 EVs that were announced in the state budget. By next month, we'll be able to understand what the response of the bidders is," said a senior official. Officials said that by June 2026, RSRTC will replace all its 900 buses currently plying on the Delhi-NCR routes with EV buses complying with the guidelines of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cách giao dịch ETH/USD mà không cần nắm giữ Ether IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The corporation is also working on procuring 600 EV buses as part of a central govt scheme, PM E-Drive, for which the state govt has also given the sovereign guarantee, said officials. "The PM E-Drive, which is the scheme of the Department of Heavy Industries, is primarily for intra-city operations, but we have requested the central govt to allow us to procure buses under this scheme due to the requirements, explaining our situation," said Shubhra Singh, RSRTC chairperson.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Rajasthan Government Begins RSRTC Overhaul with 1300 New Buses, Depot Upgrades, EV Push
The Rajasthan government has launched a broad reform initiative to modernise the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation ( RSRTC ) under its successive state budgets 2024–25 and 2025–26. The initiatives focus on augmenting bus fleet size, improving infrastructure, introducing electric vehicles (EVs), adopting digital systems, and streamlining financial management. Shubhra Singh , Chairperson RSRTC , informed that the reforms are being carried out to revitalize operations by modernizing assets, enhancing institutional efficiency, and proactively transforming challenges into opportunities for long-term resilience and sustainable performance. RSRTC's bus fleet has declined from about 5,000 buses in 2017–18 to approximately 3,500 in 2024–25. Of the current fleet, around 1,400 vehicles, are more than a decade old though safe for operations, and are slated for decommissioning in this year. In a decisive boost to RSRTC, the state government has sanctioned the procurement of 1,300 new buses. These will include deluxe intercity buses, Blue Line services, Volvo coaches, and electric buses. In the National Capital Region (NCR), the corporation plans to phase out all 900 diesel-run buses. Of these, 300 electric vehicles are being procured through the state government budget, while an additional 600 EVs are expected to be added through the central government's PM E-DRIVE scheme. Once these new buses are incorporated, RSRTC's total fleet strength is expected to return to nearly 5,000 by the end of the financial year. The deployment model includes both direct operation and the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, under which private operators run buses on fixed contracts with RSRTC. In 2024, RSRTC initiated infrastructure renewal across existing depots by raising a loan of INR 66 Crore. Presently, 76 bus stands and workshops are being renovated with individual project costs ranging from INR 50 lakhs to INR 3.5 Crore. The renovation will not only face lift the aesthetics of bus stands but will also improve the passenger-centric facilities such as lighting, seating,sanitation etc. 40 additional bus stands are scheduled for similar upgrades in this financial year. The state has also proposed constructing state-of-the-art bus stands known as "Bus Port." These bus terminals will function as multi-modal transit hubs, combining passenger waiting areas, food courts, EV charging stations, and commercial outlets. According to Singh, feasibility studies for this ambitious initiative have already been conducted for eight different locations in the state viz. Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Udaipur, Beawar, Chittorgarh, Bhilwara and Bundi. The objective is to upgrade depots into transit centres that allow smoother transfers, improve passenger convenience, and generate non-fare revenue. These bus ports will change the idea of a typical bus stand and will provide impetus to RSRTC's bid for monetizing its land assets. To address operational expansion, the State Government has approved the recruitment of 500 conductors. In addition, the corporation has also hired civil defence personnels to work as conductors. Singh stated that hiring is being prioritised in line with the projected increase in fleet and maintenance responsibilities. A new operational accountability model has also been introduced under the 'Meri Bus Meri Zimmedaari ' scheme, in which each mechanic is assigned a specific bus. The aim is to improve day-to-day upkeep and ensure better maintenance records across the fleet. Technology upgrades have also been rolled out across RSRTC's operations. All new and existing buses are being fitted with panic buttons, GPS-based telematics, and CCTV cameras. Panic buttons enable emergency alerts, particularly to enhance women's safety. GPS devices track stop durations, speeds, and route adherence, while onboard CCTV will be used to monitor fare collection and deter misconduct. This has also resulted in an increase of diesel mileage and reduction in accident rates. On the ticketing side, RSRTC is revamping its e-ticketing system to integrate with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), allowing seamless transactions across bus, rail, and metro systems. In addition to passenger-facing tech, back-end operations—including logistics, procurement, HR, and maintenance—are being digitised. As part of its EV strategy, the state is examining the feasibility to install solar-powered charging stations at select depots and planned bus ports. Rajasthan's solar power generation capacity, Singh said, makes on-site photovoltaic charging viable. Although the central schemes currently focus on intra-city transport such as Jaipur's city bus services, the state is advocating for its expansion to inter-city transport under RSRTC. This would allow EV operations to scale sustainably across longer routes. The corporation has also introduced route rationalisation as a cost-saving measure. Buses are now scheduled to run a standard average of 400 kilometres per day, improving fuel efficiency and reducing idle time. Low-performing or loss-making routes have been curtailed, while services on profitable routes have been expanded. This reallocation has reduced unnecessary mileage and operational losses. The corporation has also cleared dues related to employee payments and vendor contracts. Singh said the salary and gratuity payment system which were earlier delayed by up to three months, have now been streamlined. A significant milestone was the clearance of pending overtime allowances, amounting to ₹123 crores, honoring the commitment to employee welfare and a major step toward restoring trust and boosting employee morale. Training activities for field employees such as drivers and conductors were also conducted to boost employee productivity, enhance skills, and promote operational excellence. RSRTC Cuts Losses by ₹57 Crore, Boosts Daily Revenue Singh credited the efforts of Managing Director Purusottam Sharma and the dedicated teamwork for the turnaround in RSRTC's financial performance over the past year. The corporation has reduced its annual losses by ₹56–57 crore compared to previous year. This improvement is attributed to stricter enforcement of fare collection. Conductors caught with more than two instances of ticketless passengers face suspension, and random inspections have increased. These efforts have led to an increase in daily earnings, which have gone up from an average of ₹4.75 crore to ₹6 crore per day, occasionally peaking at ₹7.6 crore during peak travel periods. Passenger service upgrades have been introduced across the network. Depots are undergoing audits based on sanitation, lighting, seating, and overall upkeep. Each depot is being classified as A, B, or C grade to determine the scale of improvement required. Within buses, changes include improved lighting, route display systems, and public address announcements. Passengers can also access a new mobile application to track buses in real time, check availability, and manage digital ticket bookings. Singh noted that the introduction of such tools is aimed at restoring public trust and ensuring service predictability. The Chairperson also highlighted that passenger convenience has remained the focus of the State Government and in view of that, RSRTC has initiated a pilot 'Bus Hostess' facility where Passengers are provided with high-quality food and beverage options to ensure a pleasant and satisfying travel experience. The facility is being run on an experimental basis and is expected to be rolled out on all Deluxe buses soon. The overall restructuring programme covers a wide set of operational parameters and is being implemented in phases through coordinated budgeting and monitoring. Shubhra Singh stated that the current approach focuses on strengthening public transport operations through capacity building, modernization, and improved fiscal discipline. The corporation is monitoring progress through internal audits and passenger feedback and plans to evaluate measurable impact by the end of the fiscal year. The reforms come at a time when state-run transport services in India are facing financial stress and declining ridership. With an emphasis on asset utilisation, digital governance, and electric mobility, RSRTC is at the cusp of major transformation and may be soon seen as a possible reference point for similar interventions in other states.
