As India celebrates Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the nation is witnessing transformative strides in clean mobility and sustainable urban development. A cornerstone of this progress is the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM e-DRIVE) scheme—a forward-looking initiative designed to accelerate the shift toward electric public transportation and drastically reduce urban emissions.
Notified on 29 September 2024, the PM e-DRIVE scheme represents one of India’s most ambitious efforts to decarbonize mass transit. With cities expanding rapidly and pollution levels rising, electric buses are emerging as a vital solution to help India meet its climate commitments while improving the daily commute of millions.
Deploying 14,028 E-Buses Across Nine Mega Cities
The PM e-DRIVE scheme allocates ₹4,391 crore for the deployment of 14,028 e-buses, specifically targeting India’s most congested and densely populated urban centres. These nine cities, each with populations exceeding 40 lakh, include:
- Mumbai
- Delhi
- Bengaluru
- Hyderabad
- Ahmedabad
- Chennai
- Kolkata
- Surat
- Pune
By electrifying their bus fleets, these metropolitan hubs are set to witness a substantial reduction in CO₂ emissions, noise pollution, and dependence on fossil fuels. Cleaner buses mean cleaner air—directly benefiting public health and urban livability.
Bengaluru Leads with 4,500 Allocated E-Buses
Among the nine cities, Bengaluru has been allocated a remarkable 4,500 e-buses, positioning the tech capital as a national leader in sustainable public transport. Procurement is being carried out by Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) through a competitive aggregation model, which ensures cost efficiency and faster delivery.
Support for e-buses is provided to State Transport Undertakings (STUs) under the OPEX/Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, allowing cities to adopt electric buses with minimal upfront investment. This model not only accelerates deployment but also encourages private sector participation in the EV ecosystem.
The Ministry of Heavy Industries and CESL are actively coordinating with all nine cities to ensure timely roll-out, enabling commuters to soon experience quieter, cleaner, and more efficient electric bus services.
Charging Infrastructure: Powering the EV Revolution
A robust EV ecosystem requires not just vehicles but also wide, accessible charging infrastructure. Under PM e-DRIVE:
- Setting up EV charging stations is an unlicensed activity, encouraging private entrepreneurs, startups, and investors to participate.
- An additional ₹2,000 crore has been allocated for establishing Electric Vehicle Public Charging Stations (EVPCS) across India, covering national highways and major metro cities including Bengaluru.
- Operational guidelines for EVPCS, released on 26 September 2025, streamline installation, standards, and operations—paving the way for rapid infrastructure expansion.
These developments ensure that electric buses and private EVs alike will have reliable and widespread access to charging points, removing range anxiety and supporting seamless mobility.
A Major Step Toward India’s Net-Zero Future
The PM e-DRIVE scheme is more than a policy—it is a vision for the future of India’s cities. By reducing emissions from public transport, improving air quality, and promoting clean energy adoption, the initiative directly contributes to India’s broader climate strategies and sustainable development goals.
As the nation moves forward under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, PM e-DRIVE symbolizes India’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and a cleaner tomorrow—one electric bus at a time.