Modi flags off 50 AC e-buses for Nagpur, 100 more in pipeline

Nagpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday virtually flagged off 50 air-conditioned electric buses for Nagpur under Centre's PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, marking a major step towards green urban mobility. The buses were inaugurated during a programme held in Guwahati, where similar fleets were rolled out for other cities as well.
With the addition of these 50 buses, Nagpur's electric bus fleet reached 360, with 100 more buses under the scheme expected soon. The buses will be operated by the transport department of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) under its Aapli Bus service. Of the total allocation, the city received both 12-metre and 9-metre variants to cater to different route demands. Mayor Neeta Thakre, in her address, said NMC is committed to providing pollution-free and modern public transport not only within city limits but also up to a 20 km radius, covering mofussil areas of the district. "Our aim is to ensure that residents in peripheral and semi-urban areas also benefit from clean and comfortable bus services," she said. District guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLA Krishnha Khopde, MLC Sandip Joshi, deputy mayor Leela Hathibed, BJP city president Dayashankar Tiwari, and additional municipal commissioner Vasumana Pant, among others, were present.The Koradi depot has been modernised and equipped with advanced charging stations and electrical infrastructure to support the expanded fleet. Another depot at Wadi has also been readied for operations. Officials said dedicated charging points and upgraded power supply systems were installed to ensure smooth functioning. The new buses are fully air-conditioned and equipped with GPS tracking, Intelligent Transport System (ITS), and digital ticketing facilities. Special emphasis was placed on accessibility, with divyang-friendly hydraulic ramps installed to ensure safe boarding and alighting. Each bus can cover approximately 225 km on a single charge, enabling efficient daily operations across major city routes and suburban stretches. Simultaneously, the Prime Minister flagged off 100 AC e-buses for Guwahati, 50 for Bhavnagar, and 25 for Chandigarh. Under the Rs20,000 crore PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, a total of 10,000 electric buses will be deployed across various cities nationwide to reduce carbon emissions, cut diesel consumption, and promote sustainable urban transport. The civic body will also get 170 out of 250 e-buses sanctioned under the deputy CM fund. It already received 80 AC e-buses. The remaining buses are pending due to depot infra works lagging behind.