New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the inauguration ceremony for the e-bus service in Jammu via video conferencing on Thursday. He also distributed over 1000 appointment letters to candidates who cleared the J&K Combined Competitive Examination in 2024.
During the launch, he said that 100 fully air-conditioned electronic buses have been launched in Jammu. The buses will operate from Jammu to Katra, Udhamour, and Kathua, among other intra-city routes.
Shah also stated that these buses will be operated and maintained for 12 years at an estimated cost of around Rs. 561 crores. Tata Motors has been given the responsibility to ensure the smooth operation of the buses across Jammu.
In addition to the e-bus launch, the Home Minister also handed out the appointment letters to 204 candidates from the 2024 batch who successfully cleared the J&K Combined Competitive Examination. These include 50 officers of the police service, 63 officers of accounts service, and 96 officers of the J&K Administrative Service.
Tata Motors had said in a statement last year that it will supply and operate 200 electric buses, 100 in Srinagar and 100 in Jammu, for a period of 12 years as a part of the Jammu and Srinagar Smart City projects.
The company supplied its first batch of 100 air-conditioned e-buses to Srinagar Smart City Ltd. via TML Smart City Mobility Solutions Pvt. Ltd. last year.
The project 'Jammu Smart City' is aimed at transforming the city into a sustainable and economically vibrant place with a focus on tourism.
Jammu was selected as one of the smart cities in June 2017 under the Smart Cities Mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 to enhance the quality of life for citizens and enhance India's economic growth.