Karnataka seeks 7,000 electric buses for Bengaluru under PM E-Drive

Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy met Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy in New Delhi on May 16.

Union Ministry of Heavy Industries on May 16 received a formal proposal from the Karnataka government seeking the allocation of electric buses under the centrally sponsored PM E-Drive initiative.

Karnataka transport minister Ramalinga Reddy submitted the request, highlighting the growing need to strengthen public transport systems in major urban centres.

Sources told Moneycontrol that the state has sought 7,000 electric buses for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) in the meeting.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy held discussions with ministry officials and assured the Karnataka government of full support from the Centre. He said that the allocation process is underway and buses will be provided in a phased manner.

“I will ensure that Karnataka receives all due support from the Government of India,” Kumaraswamy said in a statement. “We are transforming public mobility across the country. Karnataka will definitely benefit from the PM E-Drive scheme.”

The PM E-Drive aims to deploy 14,028 electric buses in nine major cities across India. Discussions between the Union and state governments have also focused on enabling infrastructure such as charging stations, depots, and maintenance facilities.

“We are not just distributing buses—we are building a cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive transport future,” Kumaraswamy added.

Launched in 2024, PM E-Drive has an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore and will run till March 2026. Meanwhile, Karnataka is planning to induct 14,750 electric buses by 2030 through a mix of central and state schemes, including PM eSewa, PM E-Drive, and the Karnataka Electric Bus Program (KEBP) supported by the World Bank.