Has the Centre approved 10,900 electric buses for five cities?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 10,900 electric buses will be distributed across five cities.
- The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s vision for sustainable urban mobility.
- The PM e-Drive Scheme involves a financial outlay of Rs 10,900 crore.
- Collaboration between the Centre and states is crucial for the scheme's success.
- Incentives for electric vehicle buyers aim to boost adoption.
New Delhi, May 22 (NationPress) The Ministry of Heavy Industries confirmed on Thursday that around 4,500 electric buses will be allocated to Bengaluru, 2,000 to Hyderabad, 2,800 to Delhi, 1,000 to Ahmedabad, and 600 to Surat under the latest phase of the PM e-Drive Scheme.
This decision emerged from a meeting led by Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy focusing on the deployment of electric buses.
“The discussion revolved around the states of Telangana, Karnataka, Delhi, and Gujarat—a significant move towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for sustainable and inclusive urban transportation throughout India,” stated an official release following the meeting.
“Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is making significant progress towards sustainable urban mobility. Cities from Bengaluru to Delhi are enthusiastically adopting electric buses to enhance the cleanliness, efficiency, and intelligence of public transportation,” remarked Kumaraswamy.
“We are not just distributing electric buses; we are crafting the future of India’s transport landscape with a blend of innovation and environmental responsibility,” the Union Minister emphasized.
“With strong collaboration between the Centre and states like Telangana, Karnataka, Delhi, and Gujarat, we are dedicated to fulfilling the PM e-Drive commitment,” he continued.
The PM e-Drive initiative aims to deploy 14,028 electric buses with a financial investment of Rs 10,900 crore over a two-year span from April 2024 to March 2026.
The minister highlighted that this scheme is one of the largest national efforts globally to electrify public transport at a significant scale, with the government committed to timely execution, operational readiness, and strategic collaborations with all involved states.
The Ministry of Heavy Industry (MHI) has also launched E-vouchers for electric vehicle buyers to access demand incentives under the scheme.
Furthermore, under the PM e-Drive plan, an allocation of Rs 500 crore each has been earmarked for the introduction of e-ambulances and e-trucks. This initiative represents a new effort by the Centre to promote the utilization of e-ambulances for enhanced patient transport.
Additionally, e-trucks have been introduced as these vehicles are significant contributors to air pollution. To qualify for subsidies on e-trucks, submission of a scrapping certificate from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) approved vehicle scrapping centers (RVSF) is mandatory.