The Government of India is advancing the transition to sustainable urban mobility through the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme, which aims to deploy 10,000 air-conditioned electric buses across cities to strengthen public transportation and accelerate the shift toward electric mobility.
The scheme, implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), targets urban centres with populations between 3 lakh and 40 lakh, along with clusters of adjoining statutory towns. It also includes state capitals and capital cities in North Eastern and hilly regions with populations below 3 lakh.
According to the ministry, the initiative is expected to significantly improve public transport accessibility. Nearly 30 percent of participating cities will establish organized public transport systems for the first time, while around 80 percent of cities will transition toward electric mobility for the first time under the scheme.
The program has received strong interest from cities, with extensive support provided for associated infrastructure. The government offers 100 percent financial support for Behind-the-Meter (BTM) power infrastructure, which includes the electrical systems required to operate electric bus depots and charging facilities.
So far, more than 200 infrastructure proposals—covering both civil depot construction and power infrastructure—have been approved alongside the procurement of the 10,000 electric buses. Infrastructure development under the scheme includes the sanctioning of over 500 circuit kilometres of High Tension (HT) power lines and the construction of bus depots across more than 300 acres of land to support electric bus operations.
As of December 2025, the total amount sanctioned for infrastructure development under the scheme stands at ₹1,254.38 crore, while ₹483.70 crore has already been spent on building BTM power infrastructure and civil depots.
In terms of deployment, 10,000 electric buses have been sanctioned across 116 cities in 20 states and 6 Union Territories, reflecting the nationwide scale of the initiative.
Although the MoHUA data management system does not track the exact number of jobs created through the program, the government estimates that the scheme could generate between 45,000 and 55,000 direct jobs during its implementation period through bus operations and depot construction activities.
At the city level, Jabalpur has received approval for 200 electric buses under the program. The government has sanctioned ₹10.48 crore for Behind-the-Meter power and civil depot infrastructure for the city, including a mother sanction of ₹8.40 crore. The concession agreement for the deployment of the buses in Jabalpur was signed on February 12, 2026.
The PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme forms a key part of India’s broader strategy to modernize urban transport systems while reducing emissions and promoting clean mobility solutions across cities.
