PM-eBus Sewa for Green Urban Mobility

The PM-eBus Sewa scheme, aimed at enhancing urban transportation, focuses on integrating 10,000 e-buses into city bus operations through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Key highlights of the scheme include:

Scope and Investment: The scheme, with an estimated cost of Rs.57,613 crore, includes a Rs.20,000 crore subsidy from the Central government. It aims to support bus operations for a duration of 10 years.

Targeted Cities: It targets cities with populations over three lakh (as per the 2011 census), including all Union Territory capitals, cities in the North Eastern Region, and Hill States. Priority is given to cities lacking organized bus services.

Job Creation: The initiative is expected to generate 45,000 to 55,000 direct jobs through the deployment of these e-buses.

Scheme Segments:

Segment A: Augments city bus services in 169 cities with e-buses and associated infrastructure like depot upgrades and power infrastructure for charging.

Segment B: The Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (GUMI) in 181 cities, focusing on green initiatives like bus priority infrastructure, multimodal interchange facilities, and charging infrastructure.

Operational Responsibility and Support: State and city governments are responsible for running the bus services and paying the operators, with the Central government providing specified subsidies.

E-Mobility and Environmental Impact: The scheme promotes e-mobility and supports the development of charging infrastructure, contributing to innovation in the e-mobility sector and the creation of a resilient supply chain for electric vehicles. It aims to reduce noise and air pollution, cut carbon emissions, and contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction by increasing the share of bus-based public transportation.

The PM-eBus Sewa scheme represents a significant step towards sustainable urban mobility, aligning with environmental goals and fostering advancements in electric vehicle technology.