Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh flagged off 18 new electric buses on various routes from the old bus stand in Shimla on Thursday. The fresh addition to the existing fleet would address the issue of the shortage of buses in the Shimla (Rural) Legislative Assembly Constituency, he added.
Electric Buses for Shimla Rural Constituency
The minister said that of the 300 new electric buses purchased by the state government, 30 had been provided to the Shimla (Rural) constituency and 18 buses of these were flagged off. According to The Tribune, the remaining 12 electric buses will be deployed soon from Sunni on various routes in the second phase.
Vikramaditya expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri for fulfilling this long-standing demand of local people.
First Batch of Electric Buses Flagged Off
The flag-off ceremony marked the deployment of the first batch of electric buses for the Shimla Rural route. As reported by ANI, a total of 30 electric buses have been allocated for the constituency, with the initial 18 now operational.
"The remaining 12 electric buses will be deployed soon from Sunni on various routes in the second phase." — The Tribune
Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh flagged off the new electric buses for more than 18 Shimla Rural routes from the old bus stand, according to video coverage of the event.
Addressing Bus Shortage in Rural Areas
The deployment of these electric buses directly responds to the shortage of public transport in the Shimla (Rural) Legislative Assembly Constituency. The initiative is part of a larger state government effort to modernize the public transport fleet with eco-friendly electric vehicles.
The minister's acknowledgment of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister highlights the coordinated state-level effort behind this initiative. The phased deployment — with 18 buses now and 12 more later — ensures systematic coverage of routes across the constituency.
Our Take: A Step Toward Sustainable Public Transport
This flag-off represents more than just new buses on the road. For residents of Shimla (Rural) areas, these electric buses mean reliable, cleaner, and more frequent public transport options. The shortage of buses has been a long-standing issue, and this move directly tackles that problem.
To put it plainly, the shift to electric buses is a win on two fronts — it improves connectivity for rural commuters while supporting the state's environmental goals. The phased rollout from Sunni in the second phase shows careful planning to ensure all routes get adequate coverage.
We believe the real test will be in the execution — whether the remaining 12 buses arrive on schedule and whether the new fleet is maintained properly. If done right, this could serve as a model for other constituencies facing similar transport challenges.