PM e-Drive: Centre sanctions 2,000 electric buses for Hyderabad

Hyderabad The central government has sanctioned 2,000 electric buses for Hyderabad under the Prime Minister’s e-Drive scheme.

Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar welcomed the allocation as a key move to reduce air pollution and modernize the city’s public transportation system.

The announcement follows a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, HD Kumaraswamy, where bus allocations were finalized for major cities across India. Hyderabad was allotted 2,000 buses, while Bengaluru received 4,500, Delhi 2,800, Ahmedabad 1,000, and Surat 600.

Push for full quota of 2,800 buses

Minister Ponnam Prabhakar noted that Telangana has set an ambitious target of operating 2,800 electric buses within Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road (ORR). While welcoming the Centre’s support, he urged the Union government to approve the remaining 800 buses to meet the city’s full requirement.

Prabhakar said that the request for central assistance was made earlier by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, along with Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and himself, during a meeting with HD Kumaraswamy.

Comprehensive EV policy in place

Telangana has already implemented a state-level Electric Vehicle (EV) policy, which includes a 100 per cent tax exemption on EVs to encourage adoption and reduce carbon emissions. The deployment of electric buses is central to this green public transport initiative.

“The Centre’s response is encouraging, and we hope to receive support for the full fleet soon,” Prabhakar said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to eco-friendly transportation.

National Plan aims for 14,000+ E-Buses

The PM e-Drive Scheme has a financial outlay of Rs 10,900 crore and aims to deploy 14,028 electric buses across the country by March 2026. The initiative is designed to help states transition to cleaner public transport systems, with a focus on major urban centers.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries said the scheme would not only reduce vehicular emissions but also create a robust ecosystem for electric mobility across India.