Cabinet Greenlights PM-eBus Sewa with Rs 57,613 Crore Allotment for 10,000 E-Buses Nationwide

The PM-eBus Sewa initiative not only showcases the government's determination to embrace cleaner and greener transportation but also highlights its dedication to creating a more livable and environmentally conscious urban landscape for its citizens.

In a monumental move towards sustainable urban transportation, the Indian Cabinet has given its resounding approval to the PM-eBus Sewa initiative, earmarking a substantial budget of Rs 57,613 crore. The funds will be directed towards the acquisition and deployment of 10,000 electric buses across cities in India, a key step in the nation's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and combating air pollution.

The PM-eBus Sewa initiative aligns with the Indian government's vision for a greener and cleaner future. By replacing conventional fossil-fueled buses with electric counterparts, the initiative aims to significantly lower vehicular emissions, thereby contributing to improved air quality and public health in urban centres.

Furthermore, the move is set to stimulate the domestic electric vehicle (EV) industry and generate employment opportunities in manufacturing, maintenance, and infrastructure development.

The Cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the "PM-eBus Sewa" bus project, which will add 10,000 e-buses to city bus operations on a PPP basis.

The scheme is expected to cost Rs 57,613 crore, with the central government contributing Rs 20,000 crore. The Scheme will fund bus operations for a period of ten years.

The Scheme will apply to cities with a population of three lahks or more as of the 2011 census, including all capital cities of Union Territories, the Northeastern Region, and the Hill States.

Priority will be given to cities with no organized bus service under this strategy. The project will create 45,000 to 55,000 direct jobs by deploying approximately 10,000 buses in city bus operations.

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The PM-eBus Sewa Scheme is divided into two sections:

Segment A - Improving City Bus Services: (169 cities)

The authorized bus program would add 10,000 e-buses to city bus operations under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach.

Associated Infrastructure will provide assistance with the development/upgrading of depot infrastructure, as well as the development of behind-the-meter power infrastructure (substations, etc.) for e-buses.

Segment B– Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (GUMI): (181 cities)

Green measures such as bus priority, infrastructure, multimodal interchange facilities, NCMC-based Automated Fare Collection Systems, charging infrastructure, and so on are included in the program.

Support for Operation: Under the program, states/cities will be in charge of running bus services and paying bus operators. The Central Government will subsidize these bus operations to the extent stipulated in the proposed program.

The PM-eBus Sewa initiative not only showcases the government's determination to embrace cleaner and greener transportation but also highlights its dedication to creating a more livable and environmentally conscious urban landscape for its citizens.

With the financial resources now allocated, the initiative is set to transform the urban transport landscape across the country. The step towards adopting electric buses on a massive scale is anticipated to set an example for other nations grappling with similar environmental challenges, positioning India as a global leader in sustainable urban mobility.