TGSRTC to add 2,200 electric buses, taking Telangana EV fleet to 3,160
Synopsis
Telangana is making one of its boldest public-transport bets yet — 2,200 more electric buses on top of 960 already running, with a minister explicitly invoking Delhi's pollution as the warning sign Hyderabad must heed. The 310-crore-ticket milestone under the Mahalakshmi free-travel scheme adds a social equity dimension that goes well beyond fleet numbers.
Key Takeaways
TGSRTC will add 2,200 electric buses to its fleet, announced Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar Goud on 27 May .
960 electric buses are currently operational — 545 within Hyderabad city and 580 on inter-city routes.
Deploying 3,000 electric buses in total is projected to reduce CO2 emissions by 600 tonnes .
Women have used 310 crore tickets under the Mahalakshmi Scheme for free travel on TGSRTC buses.
Monthly grievance sessions for RTC employees and trade union elections are among the institutional reforms announced.
Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) is set to expand its electric bus fleet by 2,200 vehicles, state Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar Goud announced on Wednesday, 27 May, while flagging off 60 new electric buses at the Kukatpally depot in Hyderabad. With 960 electric buses already operational across the state, the addition will push TGSRTC's total EV count to over 3,160 — one of the largest electric public transport fleets in southern India.
Current Fleet and Deployment
Of the 960 electric buses presently in service, 545 operate within Hyderabad city alone, while 580 buses run under inter-city services. The corporation's total fleet stands at 10,000 buses, with nearly 1,000 of these now electric. Minister Goud noted that 35 lakh passengers use TGSRTC services daily across Hyderabad, making the shift to EVs significant for both urban air quality and commuter experience.
Environmental and Policy Goals
According to Minister Goud, deploying a total of 3,000 electric buses carries the potential to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 600 tonnes. He specifically cited Delhi's air pollution crisis as a cautionary example, stating that EV adoption is being accelerated to prevent Hyderabad from following a similar trajectory. The minister also pointed to the financial burden of petrol and diesel prices on public transport operations as a key driver of the electrification push.
Employee Welfare and Union Reforms
Beyond the fleet expansion, Minister Goud outlined several institutional reforms within TGSRTC. He announced that, on the second Tuesday of every month, District Managers, Regional Managers, and senior officials will hold dedicated sessions to address employee grievances. Elections for the recognition of RTC trade unions are also to be held shortly, after which union representatives will be engaged to resolve pending issues.
Mahalakshmi Scheme and Women's Empowerment
Minister Goud revealed that women have collectively utilised 310 crore tickets under the Mahalakshmi Scheme, which provides free travel on TGSRTC buses. The government is also reportedly taking steps to enable women to become bus owners, extending the scheme's scope beyond fare concessions to economic participation in the transport sector.
The event was attended by Kukatpally MLA Madhavaram Krishna Rao, MLC Naveen, TSRTC MD Nagireddy, Medchal District Collector Manu Choudhary, and other officials. The Congress government, which took charge in Telangana, has positioned the RTC's transformation — through new recruitments, new buses, and welfare reforms — as a marker of its governance priorities. With the 2,200-bus addition on the horizon, TGSRTC's trajectory will be closely watched as a benchmark for state-run EV transit in India.
Point of View
It is a baseline. But the 2,200-bus addition comes without a firm timeline or procurement details, which matters in a sector where state transport corporations have a long history of announcing fleet targets that slip by years. The Delhi-pollution comparison is rhetorically effective but also a reminder that Hyderabad's air quality is already under stress; the question is whether electrifying buses alone — without addressing private vehicle growth — moves the needle on city-level emissions. The Mahalakshmi Scheme's 310-crore-ticket figure is the story within the story: free travel at that scale is a fiscal commitment that will eventually need a transparent accounting of subsidy cost versus ridership and modal-shift gains.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many electric buses will TGSRTC have after the new addition?
TGSRTC currently operates 960 electric buses and plans to add 2,200 more, which would take its EV fleet past 3,160 vehicles. The corporation's total bus fleet stands at 10,000.
What is the environmental impact of TGSRTC's electric bus programme?
According to Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar Goud, deploying a total of 3,000 electric buses has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 600 tonnes. The move is explicitly aimed at preventing Hyderabad from facing the kind of severe air pollution seen in Delhi.
What is the Mahalakshmi Scheme and how popular has it been?
The Mahalakshmi Scheme provides free travel for women on TGSRTC buses. Women have utilised a total of 310 crore tickets under the scheme to date, according to the minister's announcement on 27 May.
What welfare reforms has the Telangana government announced for TGSRTC employees?
The government announced that District Managers, Regional Managers, and senior officials will hold monthly grievance sessions for employees on the second Tuesday of each month. Trade union elections are also to be held shortly, after which meetings with union representatives will address pending issues.
How many passengers use TGSRTC daily in Hyderabad?
According to Minister Ponnam Prabhakar Goud, 35 lakh passengers utilise TGSRTC services daily across Hyderabad. The introduction of electric buses is intended to help reduce both traffic congestion and pollution for this commuter base.
