Puducherry government is planning to procure 75 more electric buses under the PM e-bus scheme

Under the PM e-bus program, the Puducherry government intends to purchase 75 additional electric buses. According to official sources, in January of this year, the Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) combined the demand from the cities that were shortlisted under the program on behalf of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). 

First-phase selections have been made for states such as Maharashtra, Haryana, Odisha, Gujarat, and Meghalaya, as well as Union Territories Chandigarh, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir. In the first phase, up to 3,800 buses will be deployed, and Puducherry is qualified to get 100 e-buses. Puducherry was included in the list of States and Union Territories chosen for the first phase, and the government intends to implement e-buses as part of the PM e-bus program.

The Transport Department has requested 75 electric buses from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), as the U.T. waits for the delivery of its first batch of buses purchased under the Smart City program. The Union Government has received a detailed project report.The initiative's goal is to use a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to promote sustainable and clean public transportation in Indian cities. 

Under the plan, the administration will get funding from the government of ₹24 and ₹22 per km for each bus used on intercity routes and in urban regions, respectively, with the U.T. covering the remaining cost. In order to accommodate the new e-buses, depot infrastructure in the cities in the first segment will also be built or renovated. This includes building substations and other behind-the-meter power infrastructure. Initiatives for individuals in the second segment will center on automated fare collection systems, charging infrastructure, multimodal interchange facilities, bus priority, and infrastructure. 

The Center will also implement a Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) to safeguard e-bus providers and promote the use of electric vehicles. In the event of inadequate vehicle maintenance, inefficiencies in fare collection, or poor health of State Transport Utilities, PSM will make sure that e-bus suppliers are compensated for their vehicles.