Bhubaneswar launches electric double-decker buses: How the initiative can be a step towards sustainable mobility

On January 8th, 2025, Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) launched five 9-meter electric double-decker AC buses as part of the Pravasi Bharathi Divas celebrations. Bhubaneswar became the second city in India to offer this service, following Mumbai, which introduced similar buses in 2023.

These double-decker buses have more than twice the seating capacity of the current 90-meter single-decker buses operated by CRUT. The new buses can accommodate a total of 65 passengers plus one driver, with 29 seats on the lower deck and 36 seats on the upper deck.

The buses are operating under the 'gross cost contract' model. The operator for these buses is Travel Time Mobility Pvt Ltd, while Switch Mobility is the original equipment manufacturer.

To present these buses to the public, CRUT has adopted measures to set their services apart from the current ones. This involves using a unique orange colour as well as traditional arts and monuments on the sides of the buses, along with the Konark wheel design on the front. Specific route names like DD-1S and DD-2S have been designated to further differentiate these services.

The double-decker buses are designated to run on inter-city routes, linking major cities Puri and Khurdha to handle a large number of passengers. The routes include DD-1S: Airport to Shree Mandeer, Puri, via Master Canteen and Vani Vihar; and DD-2S: Master Canteen to Khurda.

Two buses are allocated to each route, with one additional bus kept at the depot for route assignment. Currently, these buses are parked, maintained and operated at the Gadakana Depot. Charging facilities for the buses on the DD-1S route are available at Samang Depot, Puri, while the DD-2S route buses are charged at CS Pur Depot.

The passenger survey revealed that travellers were enthusiastic and had a favourable perception of the unique experience of riding the buses. All the passengers were first-time users, predominantly tourists visiting Puri. Most chose to sit on the upper deck to savour the double-decker bus journey.

Travellers stated that taking the bus to Puri was not in their initial itinerary. Nonetheless, upon spotting the double-decker bus at the station, they chose to ride it for the distinctive experience it offered.

A family that travels to Puri two to three times a year together and a women's group that visit's the city every three to four months mentioned that the bus journey was comfortable and reasonably priced compared to travelling in private buses.

They showed interest in understanding the bus schedules from the conductor to utilise the service during future visits. Another passenger, a student from Puri studying in Bhubaneswar, mentioned that the travel experience was good and that she would recommend the service to her friends.

The double-decker bus was comfortable to drive, the driver noted, because it has air suspension unlike single-deck buses. The rear door camera's view, however, wasn't clear enough to effectively monitor passengers getting on and off, and to safely drive while watching out for overhead electric and cable wire obstacles.

Historically, major Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore ran double-decker buses. However, due to operational challenges and increasing costs, these services were discontinued everywhere except in Mumbai.

The efficient utilisation of these buses offers significant advantages to state transport undertakings and the entire city. Their high passenger capacity, cost-effectiveness over time, and reduced need for drivers contribute to fewer vehicles on the road, ultimately helping to ease traffic congestion.

CRUT is experiencing a significant learning curve in operating double-decker buses as it aims to enhance accessibility and convenience for the public, while also accommodating larger passenger volumes due to their potential capacity.

Several passengers said they chose to board a double-decker only after seeing one at the station. This indicates that further initiatives are required to increase awareness and promote this service to the public in order to attract more passengers.

These buses can handle high-demand areas and passengers with fewer vehicles on the road, increasing capacity and offering tourists a unique travel experience. Consequently, this will help ease congestion and decrease overcrowding at major bus stations like Kashmiri Gate and New Delhi Station in Delhi, as well as Master Canteen in Bhubaneswar.