- Agency finalized, 550 buses across six cities
Bhopal: The state has officially decided the agency for supplying PM E-Bus services in six cities. The contract to supply 550 buses has been awarded to Green Mail Mobility. The launch of PM E-Buses is expected to commence by September this year. Indore Municipal Corporation has already finalized the contract for 150 buses, and now it’s Bhopal’s turn. The agreement for 150 buses in Bhopal will be signed this month. Within a year, the company is expected to deliver 472 buses.
As shared by Sibi Chakravarty, Commissioner of Urban Development & Housing Department, the E-Buses will be 9 meters and 7 meters in length. The 9-meter buses will run for up to 180 km on a single charge, while the 7-meter buses can travel 160 km. Additionally, the development of E-charging stations, depots, and other necessary infrastructure will cost municipalities over Rs 50 crore. These depots and bus stands must be built, and a roadmap will need to be prepared for expanding transport services in areas that currently lack them.
This initiative promises affordable public transportation for citizens, alleviating students’ travel issues as well.
Phase one: Six cities to get E-Buses
In the first phase, six cities—Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, and Sagar—will receive PM E-Buses. These buses will be guaranteed payment for 180 km daily runs, though municipalities will handle the payments.
50,000 E-Buses nationwide
As part of the National Electric Bus Program, the central government plans to deploy 50,000 E-Buses across India. Tender processes in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Haryana are already complete, and soon, E-Buses will be rolling through Madhya Pradesh as well.
Subsidy and Cost Reduction
The central government will provide a subsidy of Rs 22 per kilometer for the operation of these buses. Municipalities will cover the remaining cost. Currently, some operators in Indore run E-Buses at Rs 65 per kilometer, but with a national tender, costs are expected to drop to Rs 40-50 per kilometer, making public transport more affordable for both municipalities and passengers.
