Karnataka Cabinet Approves 4,500 Electric Buses for Bengaluru Under PM E-DRIVE Scheme

In a major boost to sustainable urban transit, the Karnataka State Cabinet has approved the procurement of 4,500 electric buses for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). The decision, announced by Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh following a Cabinet meeting, forms a cornerstone of the state's plan to expand clean public transport in Bengaluru under the Centre’s PM E-DRIVE scheme. Under the approved deployment plan, the fleet will comprise 3,800 standard 12-metre buses and 900 nine-metre buses, with 400 of the vehicles being fully air-conditioned. BMTC will operate the buses on a gross cost contract basis, paying manufacturers a fixed operational fee per kilometre. The state government estimates an annual outlay of ₹600 crore, bringing the total projected commitment to approximately ₹12,000 crore over a 20-year operational lifecycle. Additionally, the transport department instructed that 200 mini air-conditioned electric buses be deployed within a 5-kilometre radius of all Namma Metro stations to serve as last-mile feeder lines for urban commuters. State officials highlighted that phasing in these eco-friendly buses will help reduce carbon emissions, tackle severe traffic congestion, and provide reliable, silent commuting across Bengaluru’s metropolitan network.