Gandhinagar: Tourists visiting the Statue of Unity and Sardar Sarovar dam can avail of free transport in a fleet of 55 electric buses at Ekta Nagar, as the destination expands its green mobility network in line with the stated vision of making it India’s first e-city.An official statement said on Sunday the fleet comprises of 30 buses measuring 12 metres and 25 buses measuring nine metres. The statement added that all the buses are air-conditioned and have been introduced in two phases for tourist transport. “The initiative is based on the vision announced by PM Modi on World Environment Day on June 5, 2021, to develop Ektanagar as the country’s first e-city,” the statement said.The Statue of Unity Area Development and Tourism Governance Authority has been expanding the use of electric vehicles to make local transport cleaner and more accessible. Besides the e-buses, electric cars are used for official purposes and e-rickshaws are part of the transport network, the government said.The buses can cover around 180km on a full charge, helping reduce dependence on conventional fuels and curb local vehicular emissions and noise pollution. The AC service is aimed at making travel between tourist attractions more comfortable.The fleet also incorporates accessibility features for persons with disabilities. A special lifting mechanism allows designated seats to be lowered to facilitate boarding and alighting. Four pink seats have been earmarked in each bus for women passengers.With large numbers of visitors travelling to the Statue of Unity and surrounding attractions, the expansion of electric transport is intended to address mobility needs while limiting the environmental impact of tourism. “The initiative combines free public transport with energy-efficient mobility and inclusive travel facilities, reinforcing Ekta Nagar’s push towards sustainable tourism,” the government said in the statement.
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