Hyderabad to get 100% electric TGSRTC buses by December, says CM Revanth

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday, as part of pollution control measures, announced that all TGSRTC buses operating within Hyderabad will be converted to 100 per cent electric vehicles by December 9.

He said that the State government has drawn up a comprehensive roadmap to prevent Hyderabad from facing the ‘dangerous urban crises’ seen in other metropolitan cities and transform it into a globally competitive, environmentally sustainable city.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a programme organised at Jyotirao Phule Bhavan on International Women’s Day, where he felicitated women journalists.

Preventing urban crises before they emerge

CM Revanth said Hyderabad must avoid the kind of challenges that plague other major cities.

“Women journalists should analyse the risks faced by metropolitan cities across the country,” he said, pointing out that Mumbai is frequently paralysed by heavy rains, Delhi struggles with severe air pollution, Bengaluru faces traffic congestion and Chennai witnesses dangerous flooding during monsoons.

He cautioned that Hyderabad’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has already entered the ‘orange’ category and stressed that the city must not be allowed to become unliveable in the near future.

100% electric public transport by 2026

As part of a broader anti-pollution strategy, the Chief Minister announced that all RTC buses in Hyderabad will be converted to electric vehicles by December 9.

At present, around 2,800 diesel buses are in operation. The government has already introduced 500 electric buses. It plans to shift diesel vehicles beyond the Outer Ring Road (ORR) before replacing them entirely with EV buses within the city.

To promote electric mobility, the State has introduced a zero-tax policy for EVs.

Additionally, the government is preparing plans to convert nearly two lakh auto-rickshaws operating on petrol and diesel into electric vehicles under a retrofitting initiative.

Single-use plastic will be completely banned, and red and orange category polluting industries will be relocated outside city limits.

Ambitious economic targets for Telangana

Highlighting Telangana’s economic performance, CM Revanth said that although the State accounts for just 2.5 per cent of India’s population, it contributes about 5 per cent to the national GDP.

The government has set a target of transforming Telangana into a $1 trillion economy by 2034 and a $3 trillion economy by 2047. By 2047, the State aims to contribute 10 per cent to India’s GDP.

He emphasised that women must play a central role in achieving these milestones.

Support and recognition for women journalists

The Chief Minister assured that the government would provide special recognition and institutional support to women journalists. Committees will be formed in print and electronic media organisations to ensure workplace safety for women.

He said no injustice would be done in recognising desk journalists and reiterated the government’s commitment to creating opportunities for women.

“Countries that empowered women economically have become strong economies. To end discrimination, we must recognise women’s strength and provide equal opportunities,” he said, calling for collective efforts to position Telangana as a leading State in women’s empowerment.