Gujarat Deploys 30 Electric Buses in Gandhinagar
The deployment of electric buses in Gandhinagar, under the "PM e-Bus Sewa" program, is progressing with the launch of this second phase. As part of the initiative, Gujarat had already deployed 40 units during the first phase in June; with this latest addition, the total number of electric buses in the state capital has reached 70. The management of this fleet has been entrusted to Gandhinagar Greenline Transport Service Limited (GGTSL), an entity created specifically for this purpose by the city’s municipal corporation.
Like the first batch, the 30 newly deployed units are all nine-meter "Ecolife e9" electric buses manufactured by JBM Buses, featuring the same configuration. The manufacturer offers this model in various configurations; the 70 units now operating on the streets of Gandhinagar have a capacity for 38 passengers—25 seated and 13 standing.
These electric buses are equipped with climate control systems, video surveillance cameras, wheelchair ramps, passenger information displays, and electronic ticket machines (ETMs). Four seats have been reserved for women, distinguished by pink-colored covers. It is likely that JBM Auto has equipped this fleet with a 212 kW permanent-magnet synchronous motor and a 210 kWh LFP battery pack, providing a range of over 200 kilometers.
Under the "PM e-Bus Sewa" program, Gandhinagar is set to receive an additional 30 electric buses in the future, which will bring the total fleet to 100 units. Seven other cities in Gujarat will also benefit from this program, including Rajkot (100 units), Vadodara (250 units), Bhavnagar (100 units), Jamnagar (50 units), Junagadh (50 units), Navsari (20 units), and Gandhidham (80 units). Under this program, the state plans to acquire a total of 750 electric buses.
In India, the "PM E-Bus" scheme aims to support the deployment of 10,000 electric buses in cities with a population of up to four million inhabitants. For cities with a population exceeding four million, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) is providing assistance for the acquisition of up to 14,028 electric buses under a separate program known as the "PM E-Drive Scheme."
