Indore has launched new urban and inter-city passenger bus services, including 70 electric air-conditioned buses and routes connecting the city with major destinations across Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states. The services were inaugurated on Wednesday by Atal Indore City Transport Services Limited (AICTSL) under the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva and PM e-Bus Sewa schemes.
Water resources minister Tulsiram Silawat, MP Shankar Lalwani, MLAs Madhu Verma, Mahendra Hardia and Malini Gaud, and district collector Shivam Verma flagged off the fleet at the AICTSL complex. The dignitaries and passengers subsequently travelled on the inaugural trip.
Under the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva, AICTSL will operate buses from Indore to intra-state and inter-state destinations. The announced destinations include Dhar, Ujjain, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Rewa, Ratlam, Khandwa, Omkareshwar, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Udaipur and Nagpur.
The electric buses are being introduced through the PM e-Bus Sewa initiative. AICTSL said 70 electric buses are currently operational, with plans to increase the fleet to 150. The network will include dedicated bus stops, charging stations and a centralised monitoring system linking key cities, metropolitan areas and pilgrimage sites.
The buses have been equipped with panic buttons for women’s safety, CCTV surveillance and live GPS tracking. Passengers will also have access to digital and UPI ticketing, while concession passes will be available for students and persons with disabilities.
The launch follows what water resources minister Tulsiram Silawat described as the revival of organised public transport services after two decades. The new inter-city routes are intended to strengthen connections between Indore, other parts of Madhya Pradesh and selected destinations in neighbouring states.
AICTSL executive director Arth Jain said the initiative aims to establish a safe, sustainable and citizen-centric public transport network across Western Madhya Pradesh. The next implementation milestone will be the planned expansion of the electric fleet from 70 to 150 buses.
