Hardeep Puri Announces Tender Floatation for E-Buses Under Central Scheme

In a significant move towards sustainable urban transport, the government has initiated the tender process for procuring electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa scheme, announced Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, on Friday.

Under the ambitious scheme, a total of 10,000 electric buses will be deployed across 169 cities, leveraging the public-private partnership model. Puri, addressing a press conference, revealed that his ministry's officials were actively engaging with bus manufacturers, and tenders have been floated to acquire the electric buses. The bidding process is set to conclude by the end of January.

As part of the PM-eBus Sewa scheme, passengers in these electric buses will have the convenience of purchasing tickets through an automatic fare system. Operators, on the other hand, will be remunerated based on the travel distance covered.

This extensive initiative, planned to continue until 2037, carries a substantial outlay of Rs 57,613 crore. Of this, Rs 20,000 crore will be contributed by the Central government, with the remaining share to be borne by the respective states.

The government has emphasized that priority will be given to cities lacking an organized bus service, ensuring that the benefits of the scheme reach areas with limited public transportation infrastructure.

Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, reflecting on the achievements of his ministry in the past year, stated, "The year 2023 was a standout year for urban governance in India." He highlighted the transformative interventions undertaken since 2014, focusing on pro-poor welfare and the development of urban infrastructure.

Drawing attention to the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), Puri disclosed that 1.18 crore houses have been approved under the scheme. This substantial figure marks a nine-fold increase compared to the earlier 13.46 lakh houses sanctioned under JnNURM and RAY.

Puri concluded by affirming that various segments of society have significantly benefited from the government's interventions, encompassing street vendors, informal urban workers, women and girls, as well as low-income and middle-income families seeking dignified housing, tap water connections, sanitation, and other essential services.

BS