Chandigarh, February 18- As part of slew of steps underway to augment the transportation network, Chief Minister today flagged off as many as 70 fully built-up standard Non–AC buses meeting BS VI Emission Norms.

As per the plans, 400 fully built-up standard Non-AC Buses are likely to be delivered by March 31, 2023, and the remaining buses will be delivered before June 30, 2023.

While flagging off the buses from Panchkula today, Sh. Manohar Lal said that acknowledging the fact that strengthening public transport is one of the key issues in the endeavours towards more sustainable transport systems, the state government, time and again has increased the number of public transport.

“Providing affordable, safe, efficient public transport services in Haryana and adjoining areas is our utmost priority. The government plans to buy 550 electric buses, 50 electric buses will ply in Gurugram and 50 at Faridabad.", said Sh. Manohar Lal.

Divulging more details, the Chief Minister said that flagging off these buses is more special, as for the first time in Transport Department, has got finalized fully build-up Standard Non- AC Buses.

“Earlier the department used to purchase bus chassis from bus/ chassis manufacturers and thereafter bus body fabrication is done by Haryana Roadways Engineering Corporation (HREC) Gurugram, which takes more time to carry out bus body fabrication on the supplied chassis resulting in the delayed supply of fully built-up buses to the depots,” shared Sh. Manohar Lal.

Notably, these buses have added features such as destination boards for updated information to the travellers, Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD), panic buttons as per CMVR and pneumatically controlled front service doors for better control in the buses by drivers.

The proposal of State Transport Haryana to procure 1000 Fully Built-up Standard Non–AC buses meeting BS VI emission norms were approved at the level of the High Powered Purchase Committee (HPPC) held under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister.

Principal Secretary, Transport Department, Sh. Navdeep Singh Virk, Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, Sh. Mahavir Kaushik, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sh. Sumer Partap Singh and other officers also remained present on this occasion.