With the aim to promote environmentally friendly transportation, the Union Cabinet has given its approval for the ‘PM-eBus Sewa’ scheme. This scheme will involve the provision of 10,000 electric buses to 169 cities through the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Under this scheme, the estimated cost is Rs. 57,613 crore, with the central government providing Rs. 20,000 crore and the remaining cost being borne by the states. Anurag Thakur, the Union Minister, mentioned in a press conference that priority will be given to cities without an organized bus service. The scheme will run until 2037.
Furthermore, 10,000 e-buses will be deployed under the PPP model, and infrastructure will also be improved in 181 cities as part of green urban mobility initiatives. The ‘PM-eBus Sewa’ scheme comprises two segments: enhancing city bus services in 169 cities and implementing green urban mobility initiatives in 181 cities.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the ‘PM-eBus Sewa’ scheme with a total outlay of Rs. 57,613 crore. The e-buses will be made available to cities with a population ranging from 5 lakh to 40 lakh. The scheme will support bus operations for a duration of 10 years.
Thakur explained that the selection of cities for the scheme will be through a challenge, and non-motorized transport will also be provided to assist public transport in these cities. The number of buses provided will vary based on population size, with 50 buses for cities with a population less than 5 lakh, 100 buses for cities with a population of 5 lakh to 20 lakh, and 150 buses for cities with a population of 20 to 40 lakh. Additional buses will be allocated to cities that retire their old buses. The procurement, operation, and maintenance of the buses will be carried out under the PPP model, with central assistance provided.
Out of the total Rs. 20,000 crore provided by the Government of India, Rs. 15,930 crore will be allocated for buses, Rs. 2,264 crore for infrastructure development and back-end facilities, and Rs. 1,506 crore for green urban mobility. The states will bear 40 percent of the costs, while the Centre will provide 60 percent assistance. However, in hill states, Union territories, and northeastern states, the Centre will provide 90 percent assistance, with the remaining amount to be borne by them.
According to the statement released by the Union housing and urban affairs ministry, cities will be responsible for operating bus services and making payments to bus operators. The central government will provide subsidies as specified in the proposed scheme to support these bus operations. Cities without an organized bus service will be given priority.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced a scheme worth Rs 18,000 crore to improve public transportation in urban areas during the presentation of the Union Budget 2021-22. The scheme aims to promote e-mobility and support the development of infrastructure for electric buses. The ‘PM-eBus Sewa’ scheme will cover cities with a population of 3 lakh and above, as per the Census-2011, including capital cities of union territories, northeastern region, and hill states.
Thakur mentioned that the ‘PM-eBus Sewa’ scheme will create 45,000 to 55,000 direct jobs through the deployment of around 10,000 buses in city bus operations. The scheme encompasses both the augmentation of city bus services in 169 cities and the implementation of green urban mobility initiatives in 181 cities.
The associated infrastructure of the scheme will support the development and upgrading of depot infrastructure, as well as the creation of behind-the-meter power infrastructure for e-buses. The second segment of the scheme includes initiatives such as bus priority infrastructure, multi-modal interchange facilities, NCMC-based automated fare collection systems, and charging infrastructure.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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