Incentives for private bus operators to take EV route in the works

In a move to accelerate the adoption of green initiatives in public mobility, the Centre is planning to introduce an incentive scheme especially tailored for the purchase of electric buses (e-buses) by private operators, a senior NITI Aayog official said.

Currently, buses belonging to only state transport undertakings (STUs) are supported under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) scheme. As private buses account for around 90 per cent of around two million buses plying on Indian roads, their electrification in a bid to reduce greenhouse emissions becomes crucial.