PM e-Bus Sewa: 30 electric buses launched in Vadodara, 250-bus fleet planned
Synopsis
Vadodara's first PM e-Bus Sewa fleet — 30 AC electric buses — hit the road on 29 June, with the Centre having already doubled the city's sanctioned fleet from 100 to 250. With five charging hubs, GPS tracking, and accessibility features built in, this is one of the most ambitious urban EV transit rollouts in Gujarat to date.
Key Takeaways
30 AC electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme were flagged off in Vadodara on 29 June .
The Centre revised Vadodara's sanctioned fleet upward from 100 to 250 buses; 130 are due in the first phase.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the fleet at GSFC Gate No.
Buses feature CCTV cameras , GPS tracking , wheelchair ramps, 'pink seats' for women, and multi-modal ticketing including UPI .
Charging infrastructure is operational at five locations : Gotri, Sayajigunj, Nizampura, Sayajipura, and Makarpura.
Vadodara on Monday, 29 June became the latest Indian city to receive its first fleet of electric buses under the Centre's PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, with 30 air-conditioned zero-emission buses flagged off in a ceremony at GSFC Gate No. 1. The launch marks the beginning of a phased rollout that will eventually place 250 AC electric buses on city roads — up from the originally sanctioned 100 — reflecting the Central Government's upward revision in response to the city's growing transport demand.
The Launch Ceremony
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel flagged off the first batch alongside Union Cabinet Minister Manohar Lal Khattar during the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference. Also present were Minister of State Dr Manishaben Vakil, Gujarat Legislative Assembly Chief Whip Balkrishna Shukla, Chief Secretary M. K. Das, and several legislators and public representatives.
Phased Rollout and Fleet Expansion
Of the 250 buses now sanctioned for Vadodara, 130 are to be delivered in the first phase, with the initial 30 already in service. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation is driving the initiative under its 'Clean City-Green City' vision, positioning the city as a model for urban electric mobility in Gujarat.
Safety, Accessibility and Passenger Features
Each bus is fully air-conditioned and engineered for low-noise operation. On-board safety infrastructure includes CCTV cameras, a Passenger Counting System, a Driver Monitoring System, fire extinguishers, and first-aid kits. The fleet has been designed with inclusivity in mind: buses are wheelchair accessible, with priority seating for persons with disabilities and senior citizens, dedicated 'pink seats' for women passengers, and hydraulic lifts and ramps on selected vehicles to assist passengers with reduced mobility.
Passengers can pay via cash, UPI, ticketing cards, or a mobile application. GPS-based live tracking and a Passenger Information System provide real-time route announcements and travel updates.
Charging Infrastructure
To sustain round-the-clock operations, dedicated charging stations have been established at Gotri, Sayajigunj, Nizampura, Sayajipura, and Makarpura — distributed across the city to minimise downtime between routes.
Environmental and Urban Impact
According to state government officials, the zero-emission technology is expected to meaningfully reduce Vadodara's urban carbon footprint as more buses join the fleet. This comes amid a broader national push to decarbonise city transport: the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, launched by the Centre, targets the deployment of electric buses in cities that lack adequate public transit infrastructure. Vadodara's expansion from 100 to 250 sanctioned buses signals the Centre's confidence in the city's implementation capacity. As additional buses are inducted in subsequent phases, officials say the scheme is intended to shift a significant share of urban commuters away from private vehicles and fossil-fuel-powered transport.
Point of View
A departure from the rigid allocations that plagued earlier urban transport schemes. Vadodara's five-hub charging network is also a credible operational foundation, not just a ribbon-cutting prop. The real test will come in phase two, when 100 additional buses must be absorbed into a city road network that has historically under-invested in dedicated bus lanes. Without priority corridors, even the best electric fleet risks being stuck in the same congestion as the vehicles it is meant to replace.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme?
PM e-Bus Sewa is a Central Government initiative to deploy electric buses in Indian cities that lack adequate public transport infrastructure. It funds the procurement and operation of AC electric buses, with the goal of reducing urban emissions and improving last-mile connectivity.
How many electric buses will Vadodara get under the scheme?
Vadodara has been sanctioned 250 AC electric buses under PM e-Bus Sewa — up from the originally approved 100. Of these, 130 are to be delivered in the first phase, with the initial batch of 30 already in service as of 29 June.
Who flagged off the Vadodara electric buses?
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel flagged off the first batch of 30 buses at GSFC Gate No. 1, in the presence of Union Cabinet Minister Manohar Lal Khattar , during the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference.
What passenger facilities do the PM e-Bus Sewa buses in Vadodara offer?
The buses are fully air-conditioned and equipped with CCTV cameras, GPS-based live tracking, a Passenger Information System, and a Driver Monitoring System. They accept cash, UPI, ticketing cards, and mobile app payments. Accessibility features include wheelchair ramps, hydraulic lifts, priority seating for persons with disabilities and senior citizens, and dedicated pink seats for women.
Where are the charging stations for Vadodara's electric buses located?
Dedicated charging stations have been set up at five locations across the city: Gotri, Sayajigunj, Nizampura, Sayajipura, and Makarpura, to support continuous fleet operations.
