Centre approves 10,900 electric buses for cities

New Delhi

The Ministry of Heavy Industries announced that under the PM e-Drive Scheme, around 4,500 electric buses will be provided to Bengaluru, 2,000 to Hyderabad, 2,800 to Delhi, 1,000 to Ahmedabad, and 600 to Surat. This decision was made during a meeting led by Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, focusing on promoting clean urban transport in Telangana, Karnataka, Delhi, and Gujarat.

Kumaraswamy said the scheme supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of sustainable and inclusive public transportation. He emphasized that the initiative is not just about supplying buses but also about shaping a greener future for India’s transport system through innovation and environmental care.

The PM e-Drive scheme aims to deploy 14,028 electric buses nationwide with a budget of Rs 10,900 crore, covering April 2024 to March 2026. It is considered one of the world’s largest efforts to electrify public transport.

Additionally, the ministry has launched E-vouchers for electric vehicle buyers to avail incentives. The scheme also allocates Rs 500 crore each for e-ambulances and e-trucks to reduce pollution and improve patient transport. For e-truck subsidies, owners must submit a scrapping certificate from approved vehicle scrapping centers. The government is committed to working closely with states to ensure timely delivery and smooth operation of electric vehicles under this ambitious program.