The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) announced that it has not received any orders from state governments for the production of electric buses for public transport utilities. Moreover, MHI reiterated that it is not involved in the production or manufacturing of electric buses.
However, the Ministry has played a crucial role in promoting the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles through the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme, initiated in 2015. The scheme aims to encourage the transition to cleaner modes of transportation across the country.
FAME India Scheme: Phases and Impact
Phase-I
Phase-I of the FAME India Scheme was implemented until March 31, 2019, with a budget outlay of ₹895 crore. During this phase, incentives were provided for the deployment of 425 electric and hybrid buses in various cities. These buses have been fully deployed, as detailed below:
| State/City | Buses Sanctioned | Buses Deployed |
|---|---|---|
| MP/Indore | 40 | 40 |
| UP/Lucknow | 40 | 40 |
| Assam/Guwahati | 15 | 15 |
| J&K | 40 | 40 |
| West Bengal | 80 | 80 |
| BEST Mumbai | 40 | 40 |
| Hyderabad | 40 | 40 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 75 | 75 |
| Navi Mumbai | 30 | 30 |
| MMRDA, Mumbai | 25 (Hybrid) | 25 |
| Total | 425 | 425 |
Phase-II
Phase-II of the FAME India Scheme commenced on April 1, 2019, and is set to run for five years with a budgetary allocation of ₹11,500 crore. Under this phase, incentives were sanctioned for the deployment of 6,862 electric buses across various states and union territories for both intra-city and inter-city operations. As of August 6, 2024, 4,901 of these buses have been deployed. The deployment details are as follows:
| State/UT | Buses Sanctioned | Buses Deployed |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 100 | 100 |
| Bihar | 25 | 25 |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli | 25 | 25 |
| Delhi | 1321 | 1321 |
| Telangana | 300 | 0 |
| Gujarat | 800 | 625 |
| Karnataka | 1121 | 924 |
| Maharashtra | 830 | 817 |
| Odisha | 50 | 50 |
| Uttarakhand | 30 | 30 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 600 | 600 |
| West Bengal | 1230 | 40 |
| Goa | 150 | 64 |
| Chandigarh | 80 | 80 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 200 | 200 |
| Total | 6862 | 4901 |
This update was provided by Shri Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. The FAME India Scheme’s ongoing efforts underscore the government’s commitment to enhancing sustainable transportation and reducing carbon emissions across India.
