The Jammu & Kashmir government has proposed the procurement of 200 additional electric buses under the Centre’s PM e-Drive scheme to expand clean public transport services across the Union Territory.
Replying to questions in the Legislative Assembly, Transport Minister Satish Sharma said that dedicated e-bus services from airports, railway stations, or bus stands to tourist destinations in the Ramgarh constituency are currently not available due to limited fleet strength and infrastructure constraints.
He said the extension of such services would be considered after the induction of additional electric buses under the ongoing procurement schemes and a detailed assessment of operational feasibility.
At present, owing to limited fleet availability, the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation is unable to expand electric bus operations beyond essential urban routes in Jammu.
Financial Turnaround of JKRTC
In a separate written reply to BJP MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania, the minister highlighted a marked improvement in the corporation’s financial position.
He stated that before 2020–21, JKRTC was consistently running at a loss. However, its financial performance has improved steadily from 2021–22 onwards.
According to official data:
- 2021–22: ₹15.55 crore deficit
- 2022–23: ₹12.27 crore surplus
- 2023–24: ₹22.54 crore surplus
- 2024–25: ₹70.04 crore surplus
Total revenue rose significantly from ₹114.96 crore in 2021–22 to ₹243.06 crore in 2024–25, while dependence on government support has reduced over the years.
The corporation has also cleared gratuity and leave salary dues amounting to ₹80.74 crore from its own resources since 2021–22. A remaining liability of ₹12.20 crore towards retirement benefits is expected to be cleared shortly.
The minister further informed that cumulative budgetary support of ₹788.92 crore has been extended to JKRTC. However, ₹2,014.70 crore — including ₹1,225.15 crore in interest — is payable to the government, and a proposal seeking waiver of the amount is being submitted.
Asset Monetization and PPP Initiatives
To strengthen financial sustainability, JKRTC has initiated asset monetisation under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode by identifying six land parcels in Srinagar and Jammu.
Two underutilized parcels at Pampore and Nagrota are being developed into Automated Testing Stations (ATS) under the PPP model and are expected to generate approximately ₹3 crore annually.
Push for Electric Mobility and Technology Integration
The House was informed that an Electric Vehicle (EV) policy is under active consideration by the Transport Department.
Meanwhile, the Housing and Urban Development Department has procured 200 electric buses over the past two years for deployment in Jammu and Srinagar to promote clean mobility.
Regarding operational transparency, the minister stated that fuel for JKRTC staff vehicles is provided based on actual mileage covered.
He added that GPS tracking systems have been installed in field vehicles, and electric buses have been integrated with the Intelligent Command and Control Centre for real-time monitoring and prevention of misuse.
All buses and trucks of JKRTC are equipped with GPS tracking devices, except staff vehicles. The State Motor Garages Department has taken up the matter with the National Informatics Centre for preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to implement a comprehensive GPS-based control system.
Implementation of an Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS) has also begun to enable real-time vehicle tracking, improve fleet utilisation, strengthen revenue monitoring, and enhance passenger safety.
Fleet Modernisation Underway
Due to the operation of an over-aged fleet, vehicles required frequent repairs. The corporation auctioned 237 vehicles in 2024–25 and has identified another 236 vehicles for auction in 2026–27.
Fleet augmentation measures are underway to restore routes and improve revenue generation.
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