4,500 electric buses to be procured for Bengaluru; ₹2,000 crore loan to upgrade bus infrastructure across Karnataka
The Karnataka government is securing a ₹2,000 crore loan to upgrade public transport infrastructure and procure 4,500 electric buses for Bengaluru. The initiative, supported by the Central Government's PM E-DRIVE programme, aims to reduce urban pollution and expand the city's transit network.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift toward sustainable urban mobility in India's tech hub, potentially serving as a model for large-scale public transport electrification.
The State Government has decided to take a loan of ₹2,000 crore from the Central Government to strengthen public transport infrastructure across Karnataka. The funds will be used to construct new bus depots across the State and upgrade existing bus stations, Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh said.
The decision is part of a series of measures aimed at improving public transport services and expanding the State’s bus fleet, Mr Suresh said on September 4. The government has secured approval to procure 4,500 electric buses for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), in what the Transport Minister described as a significant decision for the State’s transport sector.
The electric buses will be procured under the Central Government’s PM E-DRIVE programme. The State Government is expected to spend ₹600 crore annually on the project, with the total expenditure estimated to be around ₹12,000 crore over 20 years.
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