Aimed at improving financial condition and boost the image of the State's transport department, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has carved out a two-pronged strategy — start affordable AC bus service for the poor and introduce more premium Volvo AC buses for upper medium class passengers.
The State's transport corporation, which is in dire need for overhaul of its old fleet, will soon see at least 50 new AC buses being added to its fleet. “The idea behind introducing these AC buses with reasonable fare is to make it affordable for low income class people...The Chief Minister wants the poor to enjoy this luxury without putting any burden on their pockets,” a senior official said.
The low cost AC bus service, which will be named at 'Jan Rath' or people's carrier conceived on the lines of Indian Railways ‘Gareeb Rath,’ would start operating soon. The government plans to introduce more such AC buses in phases in coming months that will improve connectivity between various cities in the state. Apart from these low fare AC buses, the transport corporation also plans to procure ordinary buses to provide ease of travel to people, particularly those living in semi-urban and rural areas, the official added.
Similarly, the state government has decided to introduce more premium Volvo AC buses that runs between Lucknow and other major cities in the State and to neighbouring States like Delhi and Uttarakhand.
