The cabinet approved PM-eBus Seva, to roll out 10,000 e-buses in the PPP model in 169 cities and infrastructure to be upgraded in 181 cities under the Green Urban Mobility Initiatives. The scheme’s total estimate is expected to be Rs. 57,613 crores, in it, central government support would be Rs.20,000 crores. Bus operations would be supported by the scheme for the next 10 years, direct job creation of 45,000 is also expected, according to a press release from the central government.

The major aims of the PM-eBus seva would be, reaching the unreached, direct employment generation and boosting e-mobility. The scheme is envisaged into two segments. Segment A of the scheme, city bus service for 169 cities would be augmented, and under segment B, Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (GUMI) would be undertaken in 181 cities.

Cities with no organised bus service would be prioritised under the scheme, it would also cover cities of Three lakh and above population as per census 2011, plus all the Capital cities of Union Territories, North Eastern Region and Hill States.

The States/Cities shall be in charge of running the bus services and making payments to the bus operators and the Central government would provide the subsidies apart from this no nodal agency has been assigned yet.

Green initiatives such as bus priority, infrastructure, multimodal interchange facilities, NCMC-based Automated Fare Collection Systems, Charging infrastructure, etc. are part of the plan; and development/ up-gradation of depot infrastructure and Creation of behind-the-meter power infrastructure (substation, etc.) for e-buses would be taken up by associated infrastructure.

The scheme will be a boost to e mobility. The development of charging infrastructure of cities will be supported by green initiatives. Bus priority infrastructure would push the state-of-art energy efficient electric buses, e bus mobility and resilient supply chain for electric vehicles. Behind the meter power infrastructure would also be promoted by the scheme.

The scheme would be great for environment concerns as the electric buses would considerably reduce noise, air pollution and carbon emissions. Greenhouse gas reduction is also envisaged as part of this.