Kargil, July 02: Chairman/CEC, LAHDC, Kargil, Feroz Ahmad Khan along with Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal today flagged off electric buses in Kargil. 

Commissioner/Secretary Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Executive Councilor, Social Welfare, Aga Syed Mehdi Fazilly, Executive Councilor, Tourism, RD and Zanskar Affairs, Er. Punchok Tashi, Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC, Kargil, Santosh Sukhadeve, ED, SIDCO Lakshay Singhal, Superintending Engineer PWD, Abdul Mutallib, Superintending Engineer PHE, I&FC, Maqbool Hussain and other district officials/officers were present on the occasion. 

At the outset, the CEC said that main objective of the electric vehicles is to reduce carbon emission and transform UT Ladakh into more carbon neutral and provide better public transportation facilities for local commutes in the area.

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Khan said the buses are environment-friendly and will ease the public transport in the area. He said the buses will reduce noise and pollution thereby improving living conditions of residents.

The CEC said these buses are feasible for the public good and aimed to make the hospital route easy for the patients. He said as the charging points are available at many spots, therefore this facility can meet public demands.

On the occasion, the MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal said that these buses would not pollute environment and benefit general public.

He said these buses will transform UT Ladakh into carbon neutral and is a step towards making Kargil and Leh Smart Cities.

At the flag off ceremony, Commissioner/Secretary Ajeet Kumar Sahu said these electric buses would remove the public inconvenience and are environment friendly.

He said the department has taken several initiatives to improve the public transport system in Kargil and the addition of electric buses will further improve public transport. He directed the concerned department to fix the timings of all buses for all routes. 

These buses have been provided by SIDCO Transport UT, Ladakh and have 100 percent zero emission. One bus will operate clockwise covering whole Kargil town including the area of new district hospital. Another e-bus will operate from Kargil to Sankoo in three trips a day. The third e-bus will operate from Kargil to Drass and back to Kargil. The fourth e-bus will operate from Kargil to Leh on daily basis.

In the end, the CEC along with Commissioner/Secretary, Ajeet Kumar Sahu, DC Santosh Sukhadeve and all other concerned officials took a trial ride in e-bus from TFC to Council Secretariat, Zamisthiang then Baroo and back to TFC.