In a significant announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has given the green signal for the introduction of electric buses in various cities, bringing a wave of joy to residents of Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, and Madurai. Under the “PM-eBus Sewa” initiative, Tamil Nadu is set to receive 700 electric buses. This initiative, costing a total of ₹57,613 crore, aims to enhance city bus services by deploying 10,000 e-buses.
The central government, led by Prime Minister Modi, will contribute ₹20,000 crore to this initiative. The plan encompasses operating these buses in cities with a population of three lakhs or more according to the 2011 census. Priority will be given to cities currently lacking adequate bus services.
This move not only strengthens public transportation but also generates employment opportunities. By deploying around 10,000 buses for urban bus operations, the initiative is expected to create 45,000 to 55,000 direct jobs. Tamil Nadu will be among the states benefiting from this employment boost.
Under this scheme, Tamil Nadu will receive 700 electric buses.
Here’s the breakdown for the districts in the state:
Coimbatore: 150 buses
Madurai: 100 buses
Tiruchirappalli: 100 buses
Tiruppur: 100 buses
Salem: 100 buses
Erode: 100 buses
Ambattur, Avadi, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli & Vellore: 50 buses each
The operational model involves private companies managing these electric buses, with the government supplying conductors. The Tamil Nadu government is making strides towards transforming existing diesel buses into electric ones and plans to halt the procurement of new diesel buses after 2026.
To kick-start this initiative, the state government intends to procure 100 electric buses for the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) in Chennai. The funding for these buses, approximately ₹2 crore per bus, will be facilitated by KfW (German Development Bank). Additionally, plans are underway to purchase 500 electric buses with assistance from the World Bank. This phase will be followed by another 500 electric buses, marking a significant leap toward sustainable and eco-friendly public transportation in Tamil Nadu.
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