The Government of India has now announced a gigantic step towards green mobility: the introduction of a scheme for deploying 10,000 electric buses across 75 cities. Launched in August 2023, it was approved by the Union Cabinet for Enhanced Sustainable Urban Transportation.
In a written reply to a question, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu informed that the details with regard to progress of the scheme and fund spent for it. So far, Rs 201.18 crore has been spent under this scheme while Rs 541 crore has been provisioned in the vote-on-account for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Among the core objectives of the scheme, integral in this framework, is to ensure considerable reduction of both urban pollution and dependency on fossil fuels through the integration of electric buses in public transport. This contributes to the country’s broader environmental goals and international commitments to GHG reduction.
The electric bus scheme would extend central support for operations of the buses up to 10 years or till March 2037, whichever happens earlier. The ten-year-long support is likely to attract the attention of cities toward electric buses and guarantee their continuous operation and maintenance. In this regard, the financial support of the central government would reduce the high upfront costs of electric buses and make them more feasible for urban public transport.
Seventy-five cities in India will benefit under this scheme, including Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Hisar, Rohtak, Faridabad, Thane, Ahmednagar, Bhubaneswar, Bhopal, Ujjain, Jodhpur, Dehradun, Patiala, and Ludhiana. These cities have been selected on criteria related to urban transport needs and the potential for implementing and sustaining electric bus operations.
Multiple advantages are foreseen from the introduction of electric buses into such cities. All electric buses are zero tailpipe-emission vehicles; therefore, they will play a major role in improving air quality and reducing noise in urban areas. They have lower operating costs compared to traditional diesel buses and contribute to long-term cost savings. Another perspective is that shifting to electric buses will support energy security by reducing dependence on imported fuels.
It will further be able to help the electric vehicle industry in the country by providing a ready market for electric buses and related infrastructure, such as charging stations. The scheme should spur growth in the domestic EV manufacturing sector in jobs and rubbing on the economy.
The government shall have to address a lot of issues, like developing adequate charging infrastructure, training personnel for the maintenance and operation of electric buses, and integration into the existing urban transport systems, to see that this scheme runs smoothly. It is considered that the cooperation of the central and state governments, urban local bodies, and the private sector is necessary for solving these problems and seeing that the scheme serves its purpose.
The program also underscores the commitment of the government to sustainable development and falls in line with global efforts toward fighting climate change. With green mobility, India will be at the front line in setting an example for other countries on environment-related issues.
To sum up, the initiative by the Indian government to introduce 10,000 electric buses in 75 cities is one major step taken toward providing sustainable urban transport in the country. This program will have huge environmental and economic benefits if financially backed substantially and supported over a long time. For success from the scheme, effective implementation and collaboration of different players are required; nevertheless, it transforms into a leading light toward transforming city public transportation and cleaner, greener futures.