SRINAGAR: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday laid the foundation stone for 30 smart bus shelters, with 15 each planned in Leh and Kargil, as part of an initiative to develop safer, technology-enabled and sustainable public transport infrastructure in the Union Territory.
The project has been designed to address Ladakh’s harsh climatic conditions and provide protected waiting facilities for commuters, particularly students, senior citizens, women and working people who often wait for buses in extreme cold, strong winds and snowfall.
The proposed shelters will be equipped with GPS-enabled passenger information display systems, LED displays, GPS-based bus tracking and real-time estimated time of arrival information. CCTV surveillance, SOS and emergency buttons, first-aid kits, emergency oxygen cylinders and fire extinguishers will also form part of the facilities.
Accessibility features, including tactile tiles and provisions for easier movement of visually impaired and other passengers, have also been incorporated into the project.
A key component of the initiative is the solar-powered design of the shelters. Each facility will have a 2 KW solar photovoltaic system, battery storage and a hybrid inverter. The solar power system will support Wi-Fi connectivity, passenger information displays and other essential services, reducing dependence on conventional grid electricity and contributing to Ladakh’s carbon-neutrality goals.
The shelters will also incorporate elements of Ladakhi architecture, combining modern infrastructure with the region’s local cultural and architectural identity.
Saxena said the initiative was aimed at creating safe, comfortable, sustainable and technology-driven public transport facilities suited to Ladakh’s unique geographical and climatic conditions.
“These Smart Bus Shelters will become symbols of better mobility, safety, technology, sustainability and citizen-centric services in Ladakh. Our aim is to create infrastructure that responds to our difficult climate, is environment-friendly and, most importantly, meets the daily needs of our people,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their support towards infrastructure development and public facilities in Ladakh.
The Lieutenant Governor also appealed to residents to take ownership of the facilities and cooperate with the administration in keeping the smart bus shelters clean, functional and well maintained.
