India approves 580 billion rupee plan for electric buses in nearly 170 cities

INDIA on Wednesday (Aug 16) approved plans for a nearly 580 billion rupee (S$9.5 billion) scheme to deploy 10,000 electric buses in 169 cities over a decade, along with charging and associated infrastructure facilities.

The federal government will fund 200 billion rupees of the cost of the scheme, based on a public-private partnership model, Information Minister Anurag Thakur said at a briefing.

It was not immediately clear whether the remaining funds would come from state governments or private companies.

Shares of companies that investors expect to benefit from the plan rose after the news. Electric bus makers Olectra Greentech and JBM Auto closed up 8.8 per cent and 10.1 per cent, respectively.

Tata Motors was up 1.9 per cent, while Ashok Leyland, which has a unit that makes electric buses, pared a 2.5 per cent rise to settle 0.9 per cent higher.

The Indian government’s push for electric public transportation vehicles comes as it works to cut emissions and reduce fuel imports, with companies offered incentives to build vehicles and parts in the country.

Pursuing plans for an eventual fleet of 50,000 electric buses nationwide, at an estimated cost of US$12 billion, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been aggregating demand from state governments and issuing contracts or tenders inviting companies to bid.

New Delhi’s monetary support to green the country’s public transport comes at a time when bus makers have raised concerns about state transport corporations that have previously delayed payment for conventional buses.

Having a dedicated fund will provide security to bus makers, allowing them to bid freely for government contracts, said analysts.

The cabinet also approved seven railway tracking projects worth 325 billion rupees to boost connectivity and mobility across nine states.