In a bid to promote green mobility, the Union cabinet, on Wednesday, approved 'PM-eBus Sewa' for improving city bus operations. Under the scheme, as many as 10,000 e-buses will be deployed in 169 cities on a public-private partnership (PPP) model at an estimated cost of Rs.57,613 crore.
Of Rs.57,613 crore, the Union government will provide Rs.20,000 crore.
The scheme, which will cover cities that have a population of three lahk or more, will support bus operations for 10 years. Priority will be given to cities that have no organised bus service.
The initiatives under the scheme will include bus priority, infrastructure, multimodal interchange facilities, NCMC-based automated fare collection systems, and charging infrastructure.
States/cities will be responsible for running the bus services and making payments to bus operators, while the Centre will support bus operations by providing subsidies to the extent specified in the proposed scheme, the government said.
The scheme, which is expected to create 45,000 to 55,000 direct jobs, will promote e-mobility and provide full support for behind-the-meter power infrastructure. The Centre will also support the cities in developing charging infrastructure under green urban mobility initiatives.
