Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has approved the induction of 4,500 electric buses sanctioned for Bengaluru under the Centre’s PM E-Drive scheme, following repeated requests and sustained efforts by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya.
Bengaluru was reportedly the only major city among those allocated buses under the scheme that had not issued the Letter of Award (LOA), despite receiving the highest allocation. Hyderabad and Ahmedabad had already moved ahead with the process.
BMTC fleet set to cross 10,000 buses
Surya had earlier raised the issue of Bengaluru’s shortage of public transport buses. On July 28, 2026, he visited the Banashankari Bus Stand and highlighted the need to expedite approval and induction of the e-buses allocated to the city.
The BMTC currently operates around 6,500 buses, while the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) envisages expanding the fleet to at least 15,000.
With the addition of 4,500 e-buses, Bengaluru’s fleet is expected to cross the 10,000-bus mark, potentially improving public transport availability, easing traffic congestion and strengthening last-mile connectivity.
In a post on X, Surya welcomed the state government’s decision, describing it as a “wise decision” after what he termed a U-turn by the government.
He thanked Minister Krishna Byre Gowda for approving the buses and urged the state government to ensure their induction at the earliest without further delay.
Surya also expressed gratitude to Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy for allocating the highest share of e-buses to Bengaluru under the scheme.
The induction of the additional buses is expected to provide a significant boost to Bengaluru’s public transport infrastructure and support the city’s efforts to reduce dependence on private vehicles.
