Chandigarh: Chief secretary H Rajesh Prasad Thursday directed the transport department to optimise routes, improve operational efficiency and ensure infrastructure readiness for expansion of the e-bus fleet, while stepping up commuter-friendly services.At a high-level review of the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) and State Transport Authority (STA), Prasad also called for strict implementation of the Safe Transportation Policy for Students (STRAPS), early integration of panic alerts with ERSS-112, and a crackdown on illegal roadside vehicle scrapping.He asked officials to launch awareness campaigns on registered vehicle scrapping facilities and ensure that old vehicles are scrapped only at authorised centres to avail incentives.The chief secretary further directed expeditious operationalisation of the automated inspection and fitness certification centre to improve transparency in vehicle testing, and asked authorities to fast-track the regional driving training centre.Emphasising forward planning, he instructed the department to ensure timely infrastructure readiness for smooth induction and operation of additional e-buses.The meeting, attended by transport secretary Diprava Lakra, joint secretary-cum-director transport, secretary STA and CTU general manager, also reviewed staffing requirements in the STA. Prasad directed that necessary steps be taken to ensure the authority’s functioning does not suffer due to manpower shortage, with a proposal for creation of 48 posts under consideration.Officials informed that 397 buses are currently operational within the city, while 269 buses ply on interstate routes. The fleet includes 139 e-buses, with 41 more under the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme expected by June 2026.Procurement of 328 additional e-buses has also been initiated through CESL under the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs.
