Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala to get 347 e-buses: Minister

The PM-e Bus Sewa Scheme, launched on August 16, 2023, aims to augment city bus operations in urban areas with a central assistance of Rs 20,000 crore for deploying 10,000 electric buses, following a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Four eligible cities of Punjab, including Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar participated in the scheme.

This has been stated by the Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, in an answer to questions on the ‘Implementation and Progress of the PM-e Bus Sewa Scheme in Punjab,’ asked by Ludhiana Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora in the Budget Session.

In a statement today, Arora said the minister further answered that a total of 347 e-buses had been sanctioned to the four participating cities of Punjab, namely Amritsar (100), Ludhiana (100), Jalandhar (97), and Patiala (50). Under the PM-e Bus Sewa Scheme, a PPP operator/original equipment manufacturer (OEM) procures, maintains, and operates the e-buses on a gross cost contract (GCC) model.

The minister further mentioned in his answer that Rs 45.11 crore had been sanctioned to the state government for the development of the associated infrastructure, which includes civil depot infrastructure and behind-the-meter power infrastructure so far.

Under the scheme, central assistance is provided, inter alia, for the development of behind-the-meter power infrastructure; however, the responsibility for the establishment of charging stations rests with the GCC operator, he added.

Arora said, “The sanctioning of 347 e-buses for Punjab under the PM-e Bus Sewa Scheme is a significant step towards sustainable and modern urban transport. This initiative will not only enhance public transport infrastructure but also contribute to a greener environment. I look forward to the swift implementation of the scheme to benefit the people of Ludhiana and other participating cities.”