Arvind Sharma
Jammu Tawi, Feb 07: Facing huge revenue deficit since the past more than a year and a half, the Government of Jammu Kashmir has decided to hike the fare for the passengers travelling in the two hundred (200) e-buses operating across the Union Territory (UT) of J&K as the proposal for fare hike been readied by the Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL).
“We have decided to hike the fare for all the 200 e-buses operating in the UT of J&K and the proposal in this regard has been prepared,” a senior officer of the JSCL, informed the Northlines, while wishing not to be named.
“Soon after the completion of the ongoing Budget session of the J&K Assembly, a high level meeting will be held with officers of the Finance Department during which we will submit our proposal regarding major fare hike of e-buses,” the JSCL officer further informed, while adding, “the decision for meeting with the Finance Department was finalized today evening after request from the JSCL”.
The officer further informed that the proposal for hike in fare of all the 200 e-buses has been prepared keeping in view the inflation rate and to overcome the revenue losses being suffered by the e-buses since the last more than one and a half year, especially after free ride was announced by the government.
It may be mentioned that the fare for all the 200 e-buses operating across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was hiked by 7% in April last year i.e 2025.
These 200 e-buses began operating in Jammu and Srinagar in January 2024, after the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah flagged off the eco-friendly buses.
According to sources, the Finance Department’s standing order mandates the fare for e-buses.
The government has been suffering heavy revenue losses of around Rs 20 lakh on a daily basis for operating e-buses in J&K as the operational cost is far-too higher that the revenue generated.
In Kashmir division, the operational cost per km for each e-bus is Rs 60.74, while the revenue generated is mere Rs 12. There is a total deficit of Rs 9.74 lakh for all buses operating in Kashmir on daily basis.
Similarly, in Jammu division, the operational cost for each bus is Rs 62.66 per Km but the revenue generated is far too less at Rs 10.01 and daily shortfall of around Rs 10 lakh for all buses operating in Jammu.
It may be mentioned that 200 e-buses have been operating in J&K, 100 each in Jammu and Srinagar. The 12 mtr long e-buses operate inter-district, while 75 mtr long buses operate intra-district.
