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PM-eBus Sewa: Boosting E-Mobility & Urban Transit with 10,000 E-Buses Scheme
Vinod Shah
Posted on: 2023-08-16 15:45:00
Viewer: 2,129
Comments: 0
Country: India
City: New Delhi
New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News): The cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has given the approval to a transformative initiative, the "PM-eBus Sewa" scheme. This visionary scheme aims to enhance city bus operations by introducing 10,000 electric buses on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. With an estimated budget of Rs 57,613 crore, the scheme is set to catalyze urban transit and green mobility. The Central government will contribute Rs. 20,000 crore, while the scheme will provide crucial support for bus operations over a 10-year period.
Driving Accessibility
The scheme will encompass cities with populations exceeding three lakh, as per the 2011 census, including Union Territory capitals, the North Eastern Region, and Hill States. A noteworthy emphasis will be on cities lacking organized bus services, ensuring that urban mobility reaches every corner.
Job Creation & Progress
The deployment of around 10,000 electric buses is projected to generate a substantial 45,000 to 55,000 direct employment opportunities. As these buses ply the roads, cities will not only witness improved connectivity but also a surge in job opportunities.
Two Dynamic Segments
Segment A – Augmenting City Bus Services: (169 cities)
The scheme's core lies in the augmentation of city bus operations through the introduction of 10,000 e-buses on the PPP model. The enhancement extends to the development and upgradation of depot infrastructure, along with the establishment of behind-the-meter power infrastructure to power these electric buses.
Segment B – Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (GUMI): (181 cities)
This segment heralds green initiatives, encompassing bus priority systems, multimodal interchange facilities, Automated Fare Collection Systems based on the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), and charging infrastructure. The GUMI segment champions holistic sustainable urban mobility.
Operational Support
While the onus of running bus services and remunerating bus operators lies with States/Cities, the Central Government is committed to supporting these operations through stipulated subsidies. The scheme is poised to foster a well-coordinated public-private partnership.
A Catalyst for E-Mobility
The PM-eBus Sewa scheme stands as a harbinger of e-mobility. It aims to provide substantial support for behind-the-meter power infrastructure, simultaneously offering assistance for charging infrastructure under Green Urban Mobility Initiatives. This dynamic approach not only fuels the proliferation of eco-friendly electric buses but also nurtures innovation in the e-mobility sector, building a robust supply chain.
Embracing electric mobility is set to lead to a reduction in noise, air pollution, and carbon emissions. As public transportation becomes bus-centric, modal shifts will contribute to a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, fostering a greener future.
With the PM-eBus Sewa scheme, the nation gears up for a paradigm shift towards electric mobility, propelling urban transit and sustainability into a promising new era.
Industry Reaction
The e-Mobility industry has also welcomed this new initiative announced by the Govt. of India.
"The cabinet approval to the decision on the deployment of 10,000 electric buses will boost localization in the e-bus domain and expand the much needed ecosystem. This strengthens and reaffirms the Hon’ble Prime Minister's vision to make India a net zero nation by 2070. The priority given to cities which currently do not have organized buses will enhance the penetration of e-buses in Tier 2, Tier 3 towns of the country, and besides solving the problem of a reliable intra-city public transport system, will make it more sustainable by reducing carbon emissions and consequently improving the air quality," said Dr. Aanchal Jain, CEO, PMI Electro Mobility.
"The Hon’ble PM led Cabinet’s decision to allocate Rs 57,613 crore for deployment of 10,000 electric buses across major cities as also Union Territories, hill states and the northeast region will truly take electric buses to the grassroot level pan India. This is a momentous decision that sees e-mobility as a necessity for much of India and especially at a time when the country has committed towards being Net Zero by 2070 and is presiding G-20. This initiative will now really propel green public transportation and will aid the development and expansion of an EV ecosystem across the country. Finally, the momentum gained from this move will catapult India as the EV capital of the world," commented Nishant Arya, Vice Chairman and MD, JBM Auto.
Vinod Shah
Vinod Shah is a Transport Journalist, Urban Planner and Communication Expert. He possesses over 15 years of experience in Editorial, Media and Corporate Communication in the Urban Transport sector.
