SSCL rebuts ‘Non-availability of Smart City bus services after 6 PM in Lal Chowk, Civil Line areas’

Srinagar : Srinagar Smart City Ltd. (SSCL) on Thursday firmly refuted the claims made in a news item published in local newspaper on 9th January, 2025, alleging the non-availability of Smart City bus services after 6 PM in Lal Chowk and Civil Line areas of Srinagar.
In an official handout issued here, the Srinagar Smart City Ltd. (SSCL) authorities cleared that SSCL bus services are operated as per a robust and well-defined schedule, extending well beyond 6 PM to cater to the commuting needs of the general public, including shopkeepers and businessmen in these areas.
“Timely and reliable transportation remains our top priority, and we have consistently ensured adherence to the schedule across all routes,” read the statement.
Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) operates public transport services within the city and its adjoining districts across 16 routes, including 11 intra-city routes and 5 inter-city routes, with a total fleet size of 98 buses. These services are available to commuters from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM during the winter months and from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM during the summer months. On specific routes connecting important hospitals and railway terminals, SSCL ensures services until 10:00 PM.
All the routes either originate from or pass through the City Centre at Lal Chowk, traversing the Civil Lines area, including IG Road, Sanat Nagar, Rawalpora, and other areas of the city. SSCL operates these routes with optimal bus deployment to ensure efficient public transportation. In the Lal Chowk area, bus services are available from early morning until late evening, providing reliable public transport services.
For the convenience of the public, the e-bus services can be accessed in real-time through a dedicated mobile application, the Chalo App. SSCL ensures the efficient operation of these services through a real-time monitoring cell.
Additionally, SSCL regularly publishes advisories regarding the temporary unavailability of services on specific routes through the Mobile App. These advisories may arise due to factors such as electricity shortages (as the buses are electrically powered), road maintenance works, or route diversion directives issued by the Traffic Police.
“Our operational framework includes regular monitoring and prompt resolution of any service-related disruptions. Upon preliminary investigation of this matter, no evidence has been found to substantiate the reported clai However, SSCL assures the public that any genuine service gap brought to our notice will be addressed with utmost urgency,” further read the handout.
Srinagar Smart City Ltd. remains committed in providing efficient and dependable transportation for the people of Srinagar.