Prayagraj, Aug. 22 -- Amid rising traffic congestion overwhelming the city, public buses packing multiple passengers into a single ride are stepping up to ease the chaos. The government-run Urban Transport Service has championed the 'single vehicle-multiple users' model, reducing the congestion and slashing pollution one trip at a time.

As part of the Urban Transport initiative, a fleet of 704 buses-including 125 electric buses-has been operating on five major routes in Prayagraj over the past six years (2018 to 2024). This service has significantly reduced traffic congestion by catering to around 2.74 crore passengers, averaging over 12,511 commuters daily.

Globally, buses account for more than 50 percent of public transport trips, and...