Hyderabad is set to make a powerful leap toward sustainable mobility. In a major move to transform the city’s public transport and curb urban pollution, the Central Government has allocated 2,000 electric buses to the Telangana capital under the ambitious PM e-Drive initiative.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries, following a high-level meeting chaired by Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy. The meeting reviewed electric mobility goals for key metro cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Hyderabad, as part of the government’s renewed push for cleaner, smarter urban transit systems.
According to official data, Bengaluru will receive the largest fleet with 4,500 e-buses, followed by Delhi (2,800), Hyderabad (2,000), Ahmedabad (1,000), and Surat (600).
Minister Kumaraswamy hailed the initiative as a turning point for India’s transport infrastructure. “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are witnessing a transformative shift in urban mobility,” he said. “These electric buses symbolize not just a new mode of transport, but a new mindset—one that prioritizes innovation, sustainability, and citizen well-being.”
The PM e-Drive programme—touted as one of the largest national efforts for green transit—aims to roll out 14,028 electric buses between April 2024 and March 2026, backed by a massive ₹10,900 crore funding package.
But the initiative doesn’t stop at buses. In a bid to broaden the electric revolution across the public service sector, the Ministry has earmarked an additional ₹500 crore for electric ambulances and ₹500 crore for electric trucks. These allocations are intended to replace fossil-fuel vehicles in critical sectors, helping to reduce emissions while modernizing essential services. In a nod to electric vehicle (EV) consumers, the Ministry has also introduced e-vouchers as part of a demand-side incentive to encourage private adoption of EVs.
As Hyderabad prepares for this clean-energy upgrade, the move is expected to boost air quality, ease traffic emissions, and elevate the overall efficiency of the city’s transport network. The deployment also positions Hyderabad as a leader among Indian cities actively embracing a greener, tech-forward future.
