Centre Floats Tender for 10,900 E-Buses Under PM E-Drive Scheme

Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL), a green energy-focused arm of the EESL Group, owned by central public sector undertakings under the Ministries of Power and New and Renewable Energy, has floated a tender to deploy 10,900 electric buses across five major Indian cities.

This initiative, under the PM E-Drive Phase 1 scheme, represents a significant leap forward in India’s mission to decarbonise public transport and modernise urban bus fleets with clean, efficient mobility solutions.

The tender, issued on June 27, outlines the procurement, supply, operation, and maintenance of electric buses, along with the development of allied electric and civil infrastructure. The project is structured under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, following the guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Heavy Industries. Bid submissions are open until August 12, when the technical and financial proposals will be evaluated.

Among the five selected cities, Bengaluru has emerged as the biggest recipient, with an allocation of 4,500 buses. Delhi follows with 2,800 units, while Hyderabad has been sanctioned 2,000. Ahmedabad and Surat will receive 1,000 and 600 buses respectively. These cities have been chosen for their dense population, existing public transport needs, and readiness to transition to electric mobility.

The bus configurations vary across locations, featuring a mix of air-conditioned (AC) and non-air-conditioned (Non-AC) units, with options for standard floor, low floor, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) formats. Bengaluru will deploy a blend of AC and Non-AC low-floor buses, while Delhi will operate an entirely AC low-floor fleet. Hyderabad’s allocation includes both AC and Non-AC variants in standard and low-floor types. Ahmedabad’s buses are tailored for BRT corridors, and Surat’s fleet comprises AC standard-floor buses.

With this large-scale rollout, the government aims to not only cut urban emissions but also accelerate the shift to sustainable public transit systems across India. The PM E-Drive scheme signals a new era of green mobility in Indian cities, with CESL playing a pivotal role in steering this electric transition.