India's biggest electric bus drive begins—14,028 buses, ₹10,900 cr plan unveiled
New Delhi: In a significant step towards electrifying India's public transport system, the Union government informed about the allocation of electric buses to major cities under the
PM e-Drive Scheme
. Bengaluru will receive 4,500 electric buses, Delhi 2,800, Hyderabad 2,000, Ahmedabad 1,000, and Surat 600, as part of the nationwide rollout.
The announcement was made after Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy chaired a high-level inter-ministerial review meeting to assess the progress and coordinate implementation with the states of Telangana, Karnataka, Delhi, and Gujarat.
'Thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is now taking bold strides toward
sustainable urban mobility
,' Kumaraswamy said. 'From Bengaluru to Delhi, cities are actively embracing electric buses to make public transport cleaner, smarter, and more efficient.'
He added, 'We are not merely allocating electric buses—we are shaping the future of India's transport system with innovation and environmental consciousness. With close coordination between the Centre and states like Telangana, Karnataka, Delhi, and Gujarat, we are determined to deliver on the PM e-Drive promise.'
The PM e-Drive Scheme, launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, targets the deployment of 14,028 electric buses across urban India. The scheme comes with a total financial outlay of ₹10,900 crore and is set to be implemented over a two-year period from April 2024 to March 2026.
The electric buses are to be deployed in cities with high public transport demand to ensure a transition from fossil fuel-based transport to cleaner alternatives, according to the Ministry of Heavy Industries. The ministry emphasised that the project also aims to enhance commuter experience and improve last-mile connectivity in urban areas.
The scheme is designed as one of the largest electric public transport initiatives globally and aims to bring uniformity and scale to India's green mobility transition. It focuses on supporting state transport undertakings with funding, operational flexibility, and technological support.
As part of the rollout, BHEL has been identified for coordinating demand aggregation and will play a role in technology support, according to earlier announcements from the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
The ministry reiterated that timely delivery, operational readiness, and strategic coordination with state governments remain central to the implementation strategy. Regular follow-ups and joint monitoring mechanisms are being put in place to ensure that deployment milestones are met on schedule.
Commenting on the development, Akshit Bansal, Founder & CEO, Statiq said, "As India's leading provider of state-of-the-art EV charging solutions, we at Statiq are proud to support this vision by empowering the nation's electric vehicle journey with innovative, reliable, and widespread charging networks. The expansion of charging stations will significantly boost consumer confidence, making the decision to switch to electric vehicles easier and more practical than ever before. We believe this move will catalyze mass EV adoption, drive sustainable transport, and help India achieve its climate goals faster."
Suyash Gupta, Director General, Indian Auto LPG Coalition, said, "The government's investment in expanding EV charging infrastructure under the PM E-DRIVE scheme is a commendable step towards a cleaner, greener future. However, with over 33 crore vehicles on Indian roads still running on petrol and diesel, vehicle emissions remain a major contributor to urban air pollution. While EVs are undoubtedly the future, the immediate and practical solution lies in retrofitting our existing vehicle fleet and actively promoting Auto LPG as a proven, clean alternative fuel. Auto LPG is already available across the country, reduces harmful emissions by up to 68% compared to petrol, and can be adopted quickly through retrofitment—delivering immediate air quality benefits. For India to achieve meaningful progress in the fight against air pollution, we must adopt a balanced approach that accelerates EV adoption while also leveraging the environmental and economic advantages of Auto LPG for our vast existing fleet."
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