New Delhi: The Cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has granted approval to the “PM-eBus Sewa” initiative, aimed at bolstering city bus services through the introduction of 10,000 electric buses under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The endeavor is projected to incur an estimated expense of Rs. 57,613 crore, with the Central government extending a financial backing of Rs. 20,000 crore. Over a span of 10 years, the scheme will provide substantial support to bus operations.
The “PM-eBus Sewa” initiative will encompass cities with populations of three lakhs or more, in accordance with the 2011 Census data, inclusive of all Union Territory capitals, the North Eastern Region, and hill states. A priority focus will be given to cities currently lacking organized bus services.
With the deployment of approximately 10,000 electric buses for city bus services, the scheme is anticipated to generate between 45,000 and 55,000 direct job opportunities.
The scheme comprises two distinct segments:
Segment A – Enriching City Bus Services (169 Cities):
This approved bus scheme will enhance urban bus operations by introducing 10,000 electric buses under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. Infrastructure support will be offered for the development or enhancement of depot infrastructure, as well as for the establishment of power infrastructure behind-the-meter (such as substations) to facilitate e-bus operations.
Segment B – Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (GUMI) (181 Cities):
This segment underscores environmentally-friendly measures including bus priority systems, infrastructure improvements, multimodal interchange facilities, Automated Fare Collection Systems based on the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), and charging infrastructure.
Operational Support:
Within this scheme, it will be the responsibility of States and Cities to manage bus services and make payments to bus operators. The Central Government will supplement these bus operations by providing subsidies as stipulated by the proposed scheme.
Boost to Electric Mobility:
This scheme is poised to propel electric mobility by extending comprehensive backing for behind-the-meter power infrastructure. Moreover, cities will receive support for the establishment of charging infrastructure as part of the Green Urban Mobility Initiatives. The enhancement of bus priority infrastructure is poised to not only expedite the proliferation of advanced and energy-efficient electric buses, but also stimulate innovation within the electric mobility domain, while concurrently nurturing a robust supply chain for electric vehicles.
Furthermore, the initiative is projected to usher in economies of scale in the procurement of electric buses through aggregation for e-buses. Transitioning to electric mobility is anticipated to reduce both noise and air pollution, thereby curtailing carbon emissions. A modal shift resulting from an increased reliance on bus-based public transportation is expected to contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.