Bhubaneswar: The Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday announced free rides for passengers on 50 Mo e-buses and e-rickshaws plying on various routes in the city to mark International Day of Clean Air for blue skies.
“With the support of BMC, we are celebrating International Day of Clean Air for blue skies today September 7, 2023. Thus, all our passengers can avail of service on e-buses and e-rickshaws for free. Please collect your tickets and enjoy the free ride services offered by BMC and CRUT in Bhubaneswar,” an office order of CRUT stated.
Passengers can get free ride services on Mo e-buses on routes No. 9, 11, 12, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 32, 34, and 39, it added.
This is a joint initiative of BMC, CRUT and Odisha State Pollution Control Board to create awareness about keeping the environment neat and clean. The announcement was made by Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das during a walkathon organised here.
September 7 is the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies as designated by the UN General Assembly. This year’s theme, ‘Together for Clean Air’, highlights the urgent need for stronger partnerships, increased investment, and share responsibility for overcoming air pollution.
Currently, 50 electric buses are plying in Bhubaneswar and the CRUT aims to replace its entire fleet of vehicles with e-buses. It had earlier mentioned about expand its fleet by introducing 200 electric buses within the next two months. There are also plans to add 200 more e-autos as part of the government’s commitment to the cause of sustainability. As a policy, these e-autos are operated exclusively by women, transgenders and HIV-positive people.