Telangana to deploy 2,000 electric buses in Hyderabad under PM e-Drive scheme
The minister emphasised that this initiative will significantly reduce vehicular emissions and align with Hyderabad’s vision of becoming a ‘Clean and Green City
By - Newsmeter Network
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Hyderabad: The Telangana government is moving ahead with plans to make Hyderabad a pollution-free city by expanding electric public transport, as part of its efforts in promoting clean and sustainable mobility.
The State will soon induct 2,000 electric buses under the PM e-Drive scheme, an initiative of the Union government to boost electric mobility across major cities.
Minister holds key review meeting
Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Thursday chaired a high-level review meeting at the Secretariat, along with Special Chief Secretary (Transport) Vikas Raj, TGSRTC Managing Director Nagi Reddy, officials, and representatives of electric bus manufacturing companies.
The meeting reviewed the operational challenges, infrastructure requirements, and technical readiness for the smooth rollout of e-buses under the PM e-Drive initiative in Hyderabad.
Rs 35 lakh Central subsidy per bus
Under the PM e-Drive programme, the Central government has proposed to deploy 15,000 electric buses across nine Indian cities, of which 2,000 buses have been sanctioned for Hyderabad. Each bus will receive a Rs 35 lakh subsidy from the Centre, and tenders are scheduled for November 6.
The minister emphasised that this initiative will significantly reduce vehicular emissions and align with Hyderabad’s vision of becoming a ‘Clean and Green City.’
Telangana’s early lead in e-Mobility
Telangana was the first State in India to introduce electric buses back in March 2019, starting with 40 units.
The government has since taken several measures to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles across categories, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, buses, trucks, and tractors through its EV Policy, which offers tax benefits and other incentives to promote eco-friendly transportation.
Current e-bus operations in the State
The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) had planned to procure 1,010 additional e-buses under its 2023 fleet expansion plan, comprising 510 intercity and 500 city buses. Currently, 775 electric buses (510 intercity and 265 city services) are operational, and the remaining 275 units are expected to join the fleet by March 2026.
Challenges in implementation
During the meeting, officials discussed several issues that have been hampering progress.
These include delays in establishing charging infrastructure at depots, non-compliance with tender conditions by some operators, slow delivery schedules by manufacturers and higher breakdown rates and service cancellations compared to diesel buses.
The minister directed officials to work closely with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to overcome these hurdles and ensure that charging stations and power connections are completed on time.
Expectations from OEMs and Stakeholders
The government has urged all stakeholders and OEMs to: adhere strictly to delivery timelines, complete charging facilities within the agreed schedule, deploy qualified drivers and technical staff, and maintain service reliability on par with diesel buses.
The State also assured full cooperation and necessary support to ensure the smooth and timely implementation of the PM e-Drive programme.
A step towards a Cleaner Hyderabad
Reiterating the government’s commitment, Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the electric bus initiative is a crucial step in making Hyderabad a model eco-friendly urban centre. With strong coordination between State agencies, RTC, and private partners, Telangana aims to set a national benchmark in sustainable public transport.
