Chandigarh Transport Department Records 75% Revenue Growth Over Five Years
The Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) has achieved a remarkable financial turnaround, with overall income surging from Rs 102.2 crore in the 2021-22 financial year to Rs 178.7 crore in 2025-26. This impressive 75% growth comes as the administration pushes for expanded public transport coverage across the Tricity region and beyond.
Long-Route Buses Lead Revenue Surge
Revenue from inter-state or long-route buses showed the most substantial absolute growth during this period. Earnings from this category jumped from Rs 57.07 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 105.04 crore by the end of 2025-26, representing an increase of over Rs 47 crore. This category consistently demonstrated strong performance throughout the five-year period.
Tricity Services Show Consistent Performance
The Tricity bus service also registered significant income growth, with revenue increasing from Rs 33.6 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 53.06 crore in 2025-26. Officials noted that revenue from Tricity services peaked in 2023-24 and 2024-25, when the department earned over Rs 60 crore and Rs 62 crore respectively, before experiencing a slight dip in the last financial year.
Electric Buses Show Explosive Growth
The most dramatic growth in percentage terms occurred in the electric bus segment. Revenue from e-buses skyrocketed from just Rs 1.7 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 14.2 crore by the end of 2025-26, registering an increase of over Rs 12 crore. This remarkable expansion coincided with the steady addition of electric buses to the CTU fleet over the past few years.
Environmental Benefits Beyond Financial Gains
Beyond the financial improvements, the department has achieved significant environmental benefits through its expanding electric bus fleet. According to official data, the expansion has helped the Union Territory save approximately 28,785 tonnes of carbon emissions during this five-year period, contributing to cleaner air and reduced environmental impact.
Technology and Monitoring Drive Efficiency
Officials attribute the improved performance to several key factors:
- Round-the-clock route monitoring through GPS-enabled buses
- Extensive use of technology at the command and control centre
- Real-time tracking of revenue receipts and bus movements
- Better planning and route optimization
- Accountability measures for staff on low-revenue routes
"All CTU buses are GPS-enabled and monitored through the command and control centre. Revenue receipts and bus movements are tracked in real time," explained department sources. They added that staff associated with low-revenue routes face questioning, with action taken in case of anomalies, helping maintain discipline among drivers and conductors while improving overall efficiency.
Fleet Expansion with Enhanced Features
During this growth period, the transport department added new buses across all categories, with the newer fleet equipped with multiple passenger safety features and improved facilities. The department currently operates:
- 199 long-route or interstate buses
- 428 Tricity buses
- 140 electric buses
The Chandigarh administration's push for wider public transport coverage across the Tricity as well as other states and cities has clearly yielded substantial financial and environmental returns, positioning the UT as a model for sustainable urban transportation development.
