Gurugram City Bus Service set up as a Special Purpose Vehicle with the joint partnership of GMDA, MCG & HSIIDC commenced service in Gurugram Metropolitan area on September 2, 2018 under the name ‘Gurugaman’. Today, GMCBL has a fleet of 154 low floor, CNG run eco-friendly buses managed at two depots that was operating on 18 routes before lockdown. GMCBL is working under the overall leadership & directions of CEO GMDA Sh VS Kundu IAS. 

A slew of activities are being carried out by Gurugram Metropolitan City Bus Limited (GMCBL) in Gurugram under the guidance of CEO GMCBL, Smt. Sonal Goel IAS, following the Novel Coronavirus COVID 19 outbreak and lockdown. The CEO, realising great possibilities can happen through public transport, is leading unique initiatives each day to serve the community.

In an initiative integrating innovation and utility, the CEO led the GMCBL team to rise to the need of the hour in extending its support to the District Administration team in tackling the challenges and priorities of residents by offering its buses to be used purposefully to serve the needs of residents in this lockdown period. Thus GMCBL buses started serving as transportation carriers of essential food commodities as a Mobile Grocery Shop from the wholesalers to the retail points and Resident Welfare Societies/ Public Places to fulfil the needs of the residential communities. As The Better India magazine commented on Twitter to GMCBL CEO, “Important to ensure that citizens have safe access to essentials.” 

GMCBL buses are thus becoming a saviour in many ways, first as a public transport lifeline and during lockdown as the new mobile grocery stores catering to the essential needs of the residents. The buses are reaching out to residents in various areas as per their demand and guidance from the District Administration. With the Municipal Corporation Gurugram starting home delivery service, RWAs send their requirements through mail. And now, GMCBL buses are also providing delivery service of fruits and vegetables to residents’ doorsteps and connecting and establishing a bond with citizens in this time of need.

Another initiative was promoting cleanliness and personal hygiene amongst the slum dwellers living in Gurugram in concern with the Coronavirus outbreak and threat to each individual. In a drive led by the CEO along with GMCBL Team, supported by its two Concessionaires, the CEO visited slum areas to distribute sanitation items, masks and eatables among the needy and emphasised on using the sanitation products to keep the body and hands clean. The hygiene items included soap for washing clothes, tooth brush and toothpaste for maintaining oral hygiene, shampoo sachets, hair oil, comb and bathing soap to maintain personal hygiene, and eatables like biscuits. The aim was to spread awareness on safe habits and safe hygiene with regard to the Coronavirus threat. More than 1500 sanitation packet kits have been distributed till now. Taking forward the cause of humanity, CEO in another initiative, led team to distribute food packets/ essential food items to people in need residing near Basai Talaab. More than 200 packets of ration comprising dal, rice, sugar, salt and atta were distributed among the slum dwellers.

In another initiative, CEO led GMCBL team to help the stranded homeless migrant workers by extending its support to the Gurugram Police by providing buses for transportation of the migrant workers who were left high and dry on the roads due to the lockdown. GMCBL buses helped in the movement of people intra-city by facilitating them to reach relief camps, shelter homes established by District administration and other destinations. 

In another initiative, an appeal was issued by the CEO GMCBL on April 2, 2020 through a special video message posted on social media platforms to all Gurugram residents to Stay Home and to follow the lockdown order for the safety of all. Also, the CEO has been helping out the people in need through Social media especially Twitter, as people directly write to her for help and through proper coordination, the District administration team ensures in helping the people in need by supply of cooked meals, dry rations, essential food items, etc. 

Extending solidarity and help to the Govt in this difficult time, the CEO GMCBL lead by example donating her one month’s salary to the Haryana COVID Relief Fund. Inspiring her entire team and partner organisations to contribute. Rupees Ten Lakh & Thirty Three Thousand as donation sum was submitted to Haryana COVID Relief Fund set up in the state by the Chief Minister Haryana, Shri Manohar Lal. The Hon’ble CM acknowledged and thanked the Team support in the fight against #COVID-19 on Twitter to say that every contribution is a precious one.   

Preventive measures were taken under directions of the CEO by GMCBL authorities to provide utmost safety to passengers and staff before/after lockdown. Disinfection of entire buses is carried on daily, care being taken to sanitise all touch points, including handrails, bars, seats, doors, etc. for safe travelling. Health Awareness posters have been displayed inside buses on Dos and Don’ts to alert passengers. Use of sanitizers began as a precautionary measure to fight the virus.  

Adding a new dimension to its social responsibility role during COVID-19 crisis, Gurugaman buses are now being used for transportation of medical/ para medical team to Coronavirus affected containment areas and for transporting quarantine patients to hospitals and moving recovered patients after their quarantine period/ discharge to drop off destinations. 

GMCBL is working under the overall leadership & directions of CEO GMDA Sh VS Kundu IAS &  CEO GMCBL Smt. Sonal Goel IAS, GURUGRAM City Bus service in Gurugram is emerging as more of ‘Saviour’ and has redefined its relevance in times of National emergency, by not being merely restricted to be the traditional public transport system.