PANAJI, April 29, 2025:
The Panaji Smart City E-Bus initiative is witnessing remarkable growth, establishing itself as a model for sustainable and tech-driven public transport. Launched under the Smart Public Transit program, the service currently operates 48 electric buses — ranging from 7 to 12 meters — across seven high-frequency loop routes covering major city locations including Central Panaji, Mala, Bhatlem, Altinho, Taleigao, St. Cruz, Bambolim, Dona Paula, and Cujira.
To support the green mobility shift, ten charging stations have been installed — eight in Porvorim and two in Campal — along with digital infrastructure such as smart transit cards and a ticketing app. These tools have made commuting seamless and increasingly cashless, with 19,533 smart cards issued by KTCL and IPSCDL so far.
From July 2024 to March 2025, over 16.92 lakh passengers used the E-Bus service, logging 8.77 lakh kilometers. Monthly revenue surged from ₹6.49 lakh in July to ₹27.24 lakh by March 2025. The initiative has also contributed to environmental sustainability, reducing carbon emissions by 66.5 tons per month.
A key innovation has been the introduction of conductor-less corridors on four major routes, which has accelerated digital payment adoption. On the Red Route (Panjim Market–Taleigao–Dona Paula–Bus Stand), digital revenue from the conductor-less buses jumped 304% from ₹14,892 in January to ₹60,131 in March 2025. Passenger numbers rose 33% in March compared to February.
The Indigo Route (Bhatlem–St. Cruz) showed dramatic gains, with digital revenue doubling from ₹77,896 in February to ₹1.56 lakh in March, despite some road closures.
On the Orange Route (Mala–Taleigao), digital income reached ₹1.28 lakh in March, while ridership grew steadily.
The Green Route (Altinho–Church Square) also maintained healthy digital revenues, supported by a strong EPKM of ₹13.
Even routes with conductors showed positive trends.
The Yellow Route (Miramar–Dona Paula–Bambolim) saw digital revenue skyrocket from just ₹10 in July 2024 to ₹2.05 lakh in March 2025, with monthly ridership rising to 1.23 lakh.
The Blue Route (Central Panaji) increased digital revenue from ₹960 in August to ₹51,662 by March, while total passengers reached 1.82 lakh.
The Violet Route (Mala–St. Inez) recorded 2.01 lakh passengers and ₹83,758 in digital revenue in March 2025, up from just ₹60 in August.
The remaining half of the Red Route, still operating with conductors, also showed growth, with digital income rising from ₹530 in August to ₹41,119 in March.
Speaking on the progress, Mr. Sanjit Rodrigues, CEO & MD of IPSCDL, said, “Panaji is embracing a cleaner, smarter and more connected future. The response to electric buses and digital payments has exceeded expectations and sets a blueprint for other Indian cities.”
Looking ahead, the Panaji Smart City team aims to expand conductor-less operations, enhance the digital ticketing system, and introduce last-mile electric transport solutions to make urban travel even more efficient and eco-friendly.
