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As the month comes to a close, the city of Srinagar is gearing up to introduce electric buses into its transportation system. Ather Amir Khan, the CEO overseeing the Smart City project, has confirmed the completion of all essential preparations for these upcoming e-buses.Delving into the specifics, the CEO unveiled their comprehensive Integrated Public Transport Plan (IPTP), which encompasses every facet of the e-bus operation. This meticulous plan includes the finalisation of routes for each individual bus.The CEO further elaborated that the execution of these plans has been a success, including the meticulous assignment of dedicated routes for each e-bus. Looking beyond the initial deployment of 100 e-buses, Ather Amir Khan highlighted the inevitability of requiring additional e-buses in the near future.Distinguishing between the available options, he pointed out that the e-buses come in two sizes: 9 meters and 12 meters in length. Within this distinction, the 9-meter buses are tailored for navigating the older parts of the city and other congested areas. Conversely, the longer 12-meter buses are slated to traverse the main thoroughfares, connecting routes to towns like Baramulla and Anantnag.Anticipating enhanced efficiency and convenience, he underlined the integration of GPS technology and CCTV cameras within these buses. This technological integration will eliminate the need for manual fare collection. Passengers will simply use a card akin to a metro pass for their travel. Ather Amir Khan expressed confidence that the introduction of these e-buses will yield significant improvements in the city's traffic management.Addressing concerns, he reassured the public, particularly women passengers, of the safety measures in place. Striving to avoid overcrowding, the system relies on card-based fare deductions. Passengers are required to tap their card at the start of their journey and again when disembarking from the bus.Notably, the inaugural batch of 20 e-buses is slated to commence operations along various routes throughout Srinagar by year's end. This timeline was recently confirmed by V K Bidhuri, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir.