UP’s rural bus initiative expands to 56 districts, deploying 215 mini buses in less than four months.

In less than four months since its inception, the Mukhyamantri Gram Parivahan Yojana has reached 56 of the 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh, launching bus services on rural routes, officials announced on Sunday.

The Mukhyamantri Gram Parivahan Yojana was sanctioned during a Cabinet meeting in March. This initiative aims to extend bus services to villages and rural areas that previously lacked regular public transport.

The goal is to link all gram panchayats in the state with transportation options, providing the rural community with safe and convenient access to block, tehsil, and district headquarters, according to an official statement.
In collaboration with private bus operators, transport services are also being launched on routes where the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has limited bus services, it noted.

Currently, operations for 215 mini buses have begun in 56 districts across the state, directly benefiting numerous rural families, the statement remarked.

The government and transport department are gradually expanding the scheme to ensure public transport reaches every village, it added.

The highest number of buses, 43, is currently operational in Prayagraj, followed by Muzaffarnagar (27), Jhansi (19), Mathura (18), Jaunpur (7), Hapur (6), Banda and Etah (5 each), Mau and Jalaun (4 each), and Ballia (3), the statement revealed.

This scheme is also generating job opportunities for rural youth, it mentioned.

Diesel, CNG, and electric mini buses with a seating capacity ranging from 15 to 28 passengers are set to operate in all 75 districts under this scheme.

Only buses that are not older than eight years will qualify under this initiative. Initial permission for bus operations will be granted for 10 years, with the possibility of extending it by another five years, the statement indicated.

The maximum operational age limit has been established at 10 years for diesel buses and 15 years for CNG and electric vehicles.

In the NCR, only CNG and electric vehicles will be allowed to operate, it specified.

Eligible applicants are being selected by a committee led by the respective district magistrates, which includes chief development officers, assistant regional transport officers, and assistant regional managers as members.

The government has exempted operators from the mandatory requirement of acquiring permits for bus operations, the statement concluded.