4,500 electric buses to be procured for Bengaluru; ₹2,000 crore loan to upgrade bus infrastructure across Karnataka

The Karnataka State Government has opted to borrow ₹2,000 crore from the Central Government to bolster public transport infrastructure throughout the state. This decision, announced on September 4 by Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh, is part of a broader initiative to enhance public transport services and expand the state's bus fleet, according to Suresh.

The government has received approval to acquire 4,500 electric buses for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) under the Central Government’s PM E-DRIVE program. With an annual expenditure of ₹600 crore, the total projected cost for the project over a 20-year span is expected to be around ₹12,000 crore.

Among the 4,500 electric buses, 3,800 units will be 12-metre buses, while 900 will be nine-metre buses. Approximately 400 of these buses will be equipped with air conditioning. The vehicles will be manufactured and supplied in stages by various vehicle manufacturers before being gradually introduced onto Bengaluru's roads. The central government will facilitate the supply of these buses through collaborations with different manufacturers, while BMTC will pay a fixed fee per kilometer for their operation.

The government is contemplating a slight adjustment in bus fares, with a committee led by retired IAS officer Atul Kumar Tiwari reviewing the matter and expected to deliver its report soon. The Minister emphasized that any fare revision would be kept minimal to prevent an added financial strain on commuters. Additionally, the State Government plans to provide free 'Shakti' smart cards to over one crore women participating in its free bus travel scheme, an endeavor projected to cost ₹250 crore.