Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off 50 state-of-the-art electric buses for Bhavnagar under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme, marking a significant step towards expanding sustainable urban transport in Gujarat.
The buses were virtually inaugurated during the Prime Minister’s visit to Assam, where he launched development projects worth over ₹5,450 crore.
Bhavnagar has become the first city in Gujarat to receive electric buses under the national scheme. While 50 buses were dedicated on Saturday, a total of 100 buses are planned for the city, expected to significantly improve its public transport system.
The air-conditioned buses are equipped with CCTV cameras to enhance passenger safety and are designed to be accessible for Divyangs (persons with disabilities), ensuring inclusive mobility.
Under the broader rollout of the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme in Gujarat, 750 electric buses are planned to operate across eight cities in the state. The allocations include: 250 buses in Vadodara; 100 each in Rajkot and Gandhinagar; 100 in Bhavnagar; 50 each in Jamnagar and Junagadh; 80 in Gandhidham; and 20 in Navsari.
The Gujarat Urban Development Mission (GUDM) has been appointed as the state nodal agency by the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department to oversee implementation of the scheme.
The PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme aims to promote clean, reliable and sustainable public transport systems in cities across India by deploying electric buses. In its initial phase, buses have also been allocated to cities such as Nagpur in Maharashtra, Chandigarh and Guwahati in Assam.
(With agency inputs)
