Centre Sanctions 750 Electric Buses for Karnataka Under PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme

The Union government has sanctioned 750 electric buses to Karnataka under the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Sewa Yojana as part of an initiative to promote green fuel in public transportation. Out of the total allotment for the state, 50 electric buses are designated to operate in Shivamogga.

Cities across Karnataka with a population exceeding three lakh based on the 2011 census were chosen for the project. The beneficiary cities include Shivamogga, Davangere, Tumakuru, Mysuru, and Mangaluru under the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC); Belagavi, Hubballi, and Dharwad under the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC); and Kalaburagi, Ballari, and Vijayapura under the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).

The rollout is part of a nationwide Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model aiming to deploy 10,000 electric buses across 169 cities. The Central government is providing Rs 20,000 crore to support the initiative over a 10-year operational period. The allocated funding covers bus procurement, construction of new depots, upgrading of existing facilities, installation of charging stations, supply of spare parts, maintenance work, and the construction of electrical substations.

All buses under the scheme will come equipped with charging points and an automatic fare collection system integrated with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC).

In Shivamogga division, preparations have begun for infrastructure setup. KSRTC Shivamogga Divisional Controller Navis confirmed that 50 electric buses will arrive soon. A three-acre land parcel has been identified in Bhadravati to build a dedicated charging station and an electrical substation, from which the bus fleet will operate. A final decision on whether the buses will serve urban or rural routes will be made after receiving official operational guidelines.