Latest news with #FAME-II
Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Bengaluru's electric buses: Rising accidents raise safety concerns amid outsourced drivers
Once seen as a green solution for the city, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) electric-buses are now earning a deadly reputation as accidents surge. The reason many is that many of these buses have untrained, outsourced drivers hired under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model. Electric buses were introduced by BMTC to offer a clean, green alternative to Bengaluru's chaotic traffic. But the deadly accidents they are involved in has put them under scrutiny. In the past 14 months alone, over 15 accidents involving e-buses have claimed 14 lives, turning what was meant to be an eco-friendly blessing into a growing public safety concern. Sources within BMTC and transport unions point to a root cause: Outsourcing of drivers under the GCC model, where private companies operating e-buses are allowed to appoint their own drivers. Most of these drivers, insiders say, lack sufficient experience—many are former truck drivers or newly licenced individuals, who are unfamiliar with handling large passenger vehicles in city traffic. Risky ride BMTC introduced electric buses under the Smart City, FAME-II, and FAME-III schemes. Currently, 1,469 e-buses operate under this system, generating a daily revenue of around ₹1.89 crore. However, these buses are not driven by BMTC's trained drivers. Instead, private operators deploy their own recruits, often offering lower wages and compromising on training standards. 'Many of the drivers appointed by the contractors are either driving buses for the first time or come from non-passenger driving backgrounds,' a senior BMTC official admitted. 'This lack of experience is evident in the rising number of mishaps.' BMTC insiders reveal that trip completion pressure is intense on these drivers. While regular BMTC buses have a route cancellation rate of less than 2 per cent, e-buses see up to 10 per cent cancellations, amounting to 2,000–3,000 km of lost trips per day. Battery issues and charging delays add to the chaos. What's worse, drivers face pay cuts if they return to the depot even five minutes late or early. This punitive policy, drivers say, forces them to drive fast and recklessly to meet unrealistic time targets, often endangering commuters. Helpline complaints against BMTC's e-bus drivers are on the rise, with passengers reporting issues like rash driving, skipping stops, phone use while driving, and misbehaviour. A senior official admitted that most recent complaints involve e-buses, indicating a deeper problem with driver conduct and safety standards. With accident numbers and passenger complaints rising, transport unions and citizen activists are now demanding that BMTC itself should appoint and train drivers for all e-buses, regardless of the GCC model. 'You can outsource buses, not safety,' a union leader said. As Bengaluru continues to expand its electric fleet, the question remains: At what cost is the city moving towards green mobility—especially when lives are at stake?
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
India has 29,277 EV charging stations, Karnataka leads: Minister
There are now a total of 29,277 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the country, the Parliament was informed on Friday. Karnataka leads with 6,097 EV charging stations, followed by Maharashtra at 4,155 and Uttar Pradesh at 2,326, Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. The Power Ministry issued the 'Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure-2024', in September last year, and the 'Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Battery Swapping and Charging Stations', in January this year, which lay down standards and protocols for developing a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, battery charging, and battery swapping stations. "An allocation of ₹ 2,000 crore has been made under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme to support the "setting up of adequate public charging infrastructure for various categories of electric vehicles" on a pan-India basis in consultation with ministries, states and other stakeholders," informed the minister. The PM E-DRIVE scheme was launched in October 2024 to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) through demand incentives and expand EV charging infrastructure nationwide. The Centre has allocated ₹ 10,900 crore for subsidies to EVs under this scheme. When it comes to Tier-2 cities, there are as many as 4,625 EV charging stations operational in the country (as on April 1, 2025). Meanwhile, the government has supported a total of 18,84,905 electric vehicles (EVs) under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) scheme till June 30 this year. Under the FAME-II scheme, the government supported 16,29,600 vehicles. The FAME-II scheme sanctioned a total of ₹ 912.50 crore for the installation of 9,332 EV PCS, out of which 8,885 EVPCS have been installed (as on June 30), said Varma. The FAME schemes were applicable all across the country, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The FAME-I Scheme duration was 2015-2019, and the duration of the FAME-II scheme was 2019-2024.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
India has 29,277 EV charging stations, Karnataka leads: Minister
New Delhi: There are now a total of 29,277 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the country, the Parliament was informed on Friday. Karnataka leads with 6,097 EV charging stations, followed by Maharashtra at 4,155 and Uttar Pradesh at 2,326, Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. The Power Ministry issued the 'Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure-2024', in September last year, and the 'Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Battery Swapping and Charging Stations', in January this year, which lay down standards and protocols for developing a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, battery charging, and battery swapping stations. "An allocation of Rs 2,000 crore has been made under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme to support the "setting up of adequate public charging infrastructure for various categories of electric vehicles" on a pan-India basis in consultation with ministries, states and other stakeholders," informed the minister. The PM E-DRIVE scheme was launched in October 2024 to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) through demand incentives and expand EV charging infrastructure nationwide. The Centre has allocated Rs 10,900 crore for subsidies to EVs under this scheme. When it comes to Tier-2 cities, there are as many as 4,625 EV charging stations operational in the country (as on April 1, 2025). Meanwhile, the government has supported a total of 18,84,905 electric vehicles (EVs) under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) scheme till June 30 this year. Under the FAME-II scheme, the government supported 16,29,600 vehicles. The FAME-II scheme sanctioned a total of Rs 912.50 crore for the installation of 9,332 EV PCS, out of which 8,885 EVPCS have been installed (as on June 30), said Varma. The FAME schemes were applicable all across the country, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The FAME-I Scheme duration was 2015-2019, and the duration of the FAME-II scheme was 2019-2024.
Hans India
01-08-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
India has 29,277 EV charging stations, Karnataka leads: Minister
New Delhi: There are now a total of 29,277 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the country, the Parliament was informed on Friday. Karnataka leads with 6,097 EV charging stations, followed by Maharashtra at 4,155 and Uttar Pradesh at 2,326, Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. The Power Ministry issued the 'Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure-2024', in September last year, and the 'Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Battery Swapping and Charging Stations', in January this year, which lay down standards and protocols for developing a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, battery charging, and battery swapping stations. 'An allocation of Rs 2,000 crore has been made under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme to support the "setting up of adequate public charging infrastructure for various categories of electric vehicles" on a pan-India basis in consultation with ministries, states and other stakeholders,' informed the minister. The PM E-DRIVE scheme was launched in October 2024 to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) through demand incentives and expand EV charging infrastructure nationwide. The Centre has allocated Rs 10,900 crore for subsidies to EVs under this scheme. When it comes to Tier-2 cities, there are as many as 4,625 EV charging stations operational in the country (as on April 1, 2025). Meanwhile, the government has supported a total of 18,84,905 electric vehicles (EVs) under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) scheme till June 30 this year. Under the FAME-II scheme, the government supported 16,29,600 vehicles. The FAME-II scheme sanctioned a total of Rs 912.50 crore for the installation of 9,332 EV PCS, out of which 8,885 EVPCS have been installed (as on June 30), said Varma. The FAME schemes were applicable all across the country, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The FAME-I Scheme duration was 2015-2019, and the duration of the FAME-II scheme was 2019-2024.
India.com
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- India.com
Centre Supports Over 18.84 Lakh EVs Under FAME Schemes: Minister
New Delhi: The government has supported a total of 18,84,905 electric vehicles (EVs) under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) schemes till June 30 this year, the Parliament was informed. Under the FAME-II scheme, the government supported 16,29,600 vehicles. The FAME-II scheme sanctioned a total of Rs 912.50 crore for installation of 9,332 EV PCS, out of which 8,885 EVPCS have been installed (as on June 30), said Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. The FAME schemes were applicable all across the country, including tier 2 and tier 3 cities. The FAME-I Scheme duration was 2015-2019 and the duration of FAME-II scheme was 2019-2024. Under the FAME-I scheme, 2,55,305 EVs were supported by the government, the minister informed. Under FAME-I, approximately 520 charging stations/infrastructure were sanctioned with an amount of Rs 43 crore. The key objectives of FAME-II scheme are to encourage adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles by the way of market creation, demand aggregation and other related activities; promote domestic technology for development of electric vehicles and its components ecosystem and promote manufacturing of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) and hybrid vehicles within the country by the way of supporting manufacturing ecosystem. It also helps in creating strong, globally competitive, viable and self-sustaining xEV industry and contributing to country's efforts for low emission intensive economy as agreed in COP 21, the minister said. The National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 is a National Mission document providing the vision and the roadmap for the faster adoption of electric vehicles and their manufacturing in the country. As part of the NEMMP 2020, the Ministry of Heavy Industries formulated the FAME India scheme in 2015 to promote adoption of electric/ hybrid vehicles (xEVs) in India.
