EVs: The Center clears Rs.57k crore scheme to push electricity-run bus services
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: In a major push to introduce electricity-run public transport in India, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the “PM-eBus Sewa” to provide a big boost to green mobilities across the urban centers.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur told reporters in the national capital that the scheme will augment city bus operations, under which priority will be given to cities that have no organized bus services so far.
He said around 10,000 new e-buses will be deployed on the public-private partnership (PPP) model across 169 cities, and infrastructure will be upgraded in another 181 cities under the Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (GUMI).
The total estimated cost of the mammoth scheme has been pegged at Rs 57,613 crore, including the Center’s financial support of Rs 20,000 crores, he said.
“The PM e-Bus Seva has been given approval. Rs 57,613 crore will be spent on this. Around 10,000 new electric buses will be provided across the country,” he said.
The scheme will support bus operations for 10 years and is expected to create 45,000 to 55,000 direct jobs.
It will cover cities with a population of 300,000 or above.
All capital cities of Union Territories, hill states, and the northeast region will be covered under the scheme.
