Ahead of Mahakumbh 2025, a total of 100 electric buses will run on the roads of Sangam city. The authorities of UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) and the district administration have started conducting the route survey on which these buses will run.
Sources informed that these buses will run on 24 routes in the first phase. These 24 routes have been proposed in the board meeting chaired by the divisional commissioner. After the proposal is officially approved, the list of these routes will be sent to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Presently 50 e-buses are plying on different routes of the city and 50 more such buses will be arriving by February end next year. Decision on creation of new charging points, maintenance of buses and development of basic facilities will also be taken in the board meeting.
The city will also have a state-of-the-art charging station at Naini. Officials have identified the land for the construction of this proposed depot. As per the plans, Prayagraj will get 100 new e-buses by February 2024 paving the way for every key route being connected through this service.
Recently Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Surendra Kumar Bagde, visited the site identified for the proposed e-bus depot. This site is quite close to the present charging station that caters to the 50 e-bus plying on the roads of the Sangam city.
Hospitals asked to ‘reserve’ 200 beds: The district administration has directed all government and private hospitals to keep at least 200 beds as ‘reserved’ for October 8 – when the grand Air Force flypast will take place in Sangam city. Besides 50 units of blood each (of all blood groups) has to be kept as reserve in AMA Blood Bank, ANHA and SRN blood banks along with 20 unit blood each in Beli and Colvin blood banks. The hospitals have also been asked to ensure that ICU, ventilator and other resources are fully functional and made available in case of an exigency.
A team of Health department and that of India Air Force (IAF), led by Wing Commander Anil Kumar, visited different hospitals of the city, including Tej Bahadur Sapru Hospital, Motilal Nehru Divisional Hospital, Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital, District Women’s Hospital and inquired about arrangements.
The authorities said since a large number of citizens, including VVIPs, will be in the city during the air show and there should be no laxity in preparations. Chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Ashu Pandey has instructed small hospitals to keep five beds reserved in ICUs while big ones have been asked to spare seven beds.