Vadodara City Bus News: Vadodara commuters faced major inconvenience on Monday after the city’s public bus service came to an abrupt halt. Around 160 city buses operated by Vinayak Logistics stopped running following the expiry of the operator’s contract, leaving thousands of daily passengers without their regular mode of transport.
With the CNG bus fleet now off the roads, only about 20 newly introduced electric buses are currently available to serve the city, creating significant challenges for students, office-goers, senior citizens and daily commuters.
Vadodara City Bus Contract Ends, Bus Operations Suspended
According to available information, Vinayak Logistics discontinued services after its contract with the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) came to an end and no further extension was granted. The company had been operating Vadodara’s city bus service under the Smart City initiative for several years. Reports over the past year had already indicated that the existing contract was nearing its end while the city prepared to transition towards a new electric bus fleet.
Only 20 Electric Buses Currently Operational
Although Vadodara has started introducing electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa initiative, the current fleet is insufficient to replace the large number of buses that have stopped operating.
As a result:
- Around 160 city buses have gone off the roads.
- Only approximately 20 electric buses are currently serving passengers.
- Several city routes have either been suspended or are witnessing reduced frequency.
- Commuters are facing longer waiting times and overcrowding.
The city is expected to receive a much larger fleet of electric buses in phases over the coming months.
Students and Office-Goers Face Major Inconvenience
The sudden suspension of services has affected thousands of people who rely on public transport every day.
Among the worst affected are:
- School and college students
- Office employees
- Senior citizens
- Daily wage workers
- Passengers travelling to hospitals and government offices
Many commuters were forced to depend on auto-rickshaws, private vehicles and app-based transport services, resulting in higher travel expenses.
Questions Raised Over Transition Planning
The disruption has also raised questions regarding the planning of Vadodara’s transition from conventional city buses to electric buses.
Residents have questioned why an alternative arrangement was not put in place before the existing bus fleet was withdrawn, especially considering that only a limited number of electric buses are currently operational. Earlier reports had indicated that VMC planned to gradually phase out the existing CNG bus fleet as more electric buses were inducted into service.
Passengers Demand Immediate Alternative Transport
Commuters have urged the municipal authorities to restore bus connectivity as quickly as possible.
Citizens are demanding:
- Temporary replacement buses
- Additional electric buses on major routes
- Increased service frequency
- A clear roadmap for restoring full city bus operations
Until a larger electric fleet becomes operational, Vadodara’s public transport network is likely to remain under pressure.
Conclusion
The suspension of Vadodara’s city bus service marks a major setback for daily commuters. With nearly 160 buses taken off the roads and only around 20 electric buses currently operating, thousands of passengers are facing transportation difficulties. Attention is now focused on how quickly the Vadodara Municipal Corporation can introduce additional buses and restore normal public transport services across the city.
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