Centre Allocates Over 10,000 Electric Buses to Key Cities Under PM e-Drive Scheme

New Delhi: In a major push towards clean and sustainable urban mobility, the Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the rollout of electric buses under the PM e-Drive Scheme. The meeting, which focused on implementation plans in Telangana, Karnataka, Delhi, and Gujarat, signals a decisive move in advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for eco-friendly public transport across India.

Following intensive deliberations, the Ministry of Heavy Industries confirmed the allocation of electric buses under the current phase of the scheme:

• Bengaluru: 4,500 buses

• Hyderabad: 2,000 buses

• Delhi: 2,800 buses

• Ahmedabad: 1,000 buses

• Surat: 600 buses

“Thanks to the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India is now taking bold strides toward sustainable urban mobility,” said Kumaraswamy. “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, we are determined to deliver on the PM e-Drive promise.”

The PM e-Drive Scheme, launched in April 2024, targets the deployment of 14,028 electric buses across India over a two-year period ending March 2026. With a total financial outlay of ₹10,900 crore, the scheme ranks among the world’s largest national initiatives to electrify public transport and reduce urban air pollution.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries emphasized its commitment to ensuring timely delivery of buses, operational readiness of state agencies, and the establishment of robust public-private partnerships to ensure smooth implementation and maintenance.