SMEV, Others Laud Nod To PM-eBus Sewa Scheme

The Society Of Manufacturers Of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) on Thursday welcomed the government’s nod to PM-eBus Sewa scheme for augmenting city bus operation by 10,000 e-buses and stated that the initiative will play an instrumental role in propelling India towards self-reliance.

Sohinder Gill, Director General, SMEV said that the initiative holds the potential to generate direct employment opportunities and help in up-skilling the existing resources.

“This scheme will also introduce economies of scale for the procurement of electric buses by leveraging aggregation for e-buses. This much-needed initiative will play an instrumental role in propelling India towards self-reliance, environmental stewardship, and its envisioned status as a hub for electric vehicles,” Gill told Opportunity India.

He said that SMEV welcomes the cabinet's decision to approve the ‘PM-eBus Sewa’ urban bus augmentation scheme, poised to significantly elevate the landscape of cleaner public transportation.

He added that buses being a pivotal source of urban pollution, this decision will help substantially reduce pollution levels and consequential carbon emissions. Moreover, this strategic manoeuvre is set to act as a catalyst for the promotion of electric vehicles across diverse urban centres, enabling a more extensive embrace of electric mobility. 

“I believe two wheeler mobility is one more of such area that is used by masses and its electrification can become a significant contributor to the EV mission of India,” Gill said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Chairman & Managing Director, Pinnacle Industries Limited and EKA Mobility also lauded the approval of scheme and said it is a testament to our nation's pioneering role in the global transition towards sustainable mobility.

“By spearheading this initiative, India is setting an inspiring example for the world and propelling bus transportation, a lifeline for over 50 per cent of our population, into a greener and more promising future,” Mehta told Opportunity India.

He said that as a steadfast supporter of sustainable transportation, we at EKA Mobility are excited to align our environment-conscious mobility products and solutions, completely designed and manufactured right here in India, with this mission.

“Our commitment to a greener future perfectly complements this monumental initiative, and we stand prepared to contribute our expertise to ensure the resounding success of this transformative step,” he added.

He also said that this visionary initiative not only bolsters the nation’s public road transport infrastructure but also ushers in a new era of benefits for citizens, industry, and the economy.

“By embracing sustainable mobility, India reinforces its commitment to environmental stewardship, climate change mitigation, and the well-being of its people, illustrating that a greener tomorrow is not only attainable but also essential,” he added.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved PM-eBus Sewa scheme for augmenting city bus operation by 10,000 e-buses on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. 

According to the government, the scheme would have an estimated cost of INR 57,613 crore, out of which support of INR 20,000 crore will be provided by the central government. The scheme will support bus operations for 10 years.

“The scheme will cover cities of three lakh and above population as per census 2011 including all the capital cities of union territories, north eastern region and hill states. Under this scheme priority will be given to cities having no organised bus service,” the cabinet which was presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said.