Haryana plans bus connectivity to every village within a year

Chandigarh: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday directed the transport department to prepare a comprehensive and future-ready route plan aimed at ensuring seamless bus connectivity to every village and urban area in the state within the next one year.Chairing a high-level review meeting on the department's five-year roadmap and action plan under Haryana Vision-2047 at the Haryana Civil Secretariat, the CM stressed that reducing dependence on private vehicles was essential for lowering petrol and diesel consumption and promoting sustainable mobility.He said despite a substantial rise in population across nearly 6,500 villages and urban centres in Haryana, public transport services had not expanded in proportion to growing demand. He directed officials to redesign the state's transport network in line with future requirements, saying improved connectivity would especially benefit students, women and working professionals.Saini also proposed cluster-based transport connectivity through circular bus routes linking nearby villages and said policy changes could be made if required. He further emphasised the need to strengthen intra-city bus services, particularly in rapidly growing cities such as Gurugram, Faridabad and Sonipat, where industrial workers increasingly rely on private vehicles due to inadequate public transport.To modernise the system, the CM directed that all Haryana buses be integrated with a real-time tracking system similar to Indian Railways, enabling passengers to track bus locations through a mobile application. CCTV cameras linked to a central control room and panic buttons would also be installed in buses to enhance passenger safety, particularly for women.Reaffirming the government's focus on green mobility, Saini announced that 10 new electric bus stands would be developed within a year, along with expanded charging infrastructure and rooftop solar systems at bus stands. He also said 20 lakh additional beneficiaries would soon receive Happy Cards under the state scheme. The Chief Minister further directed strict action against vehicular pollution, including installation of automatic number plate recognition cameras at petrol pumps to identify vehicles operating without valid pollution under control certificates.