With the addition of 320 new electric buses, Delhi now boasts the largest electric bus fleet in India, totaling nearly 2,000 units. These buses, provided by Tata Motors, offer a range of 225 kilometers and will operate on various routes: 114 buses will depart from the Sukhdev Vihar Depot, 150 from the Kalkaji Depot, and 120 from the Naraina Depot. The Delhi government announced the procurement of these buses in February.
Despite this addition, the electric buses still represent a small fraction of the 7,683 buses servicing Delhi. However, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena emphasized that more electric units would be added to the fleet. “Almost 320 buses are being launched, and they will provide relief to the public of Delhi. We are planning to add more buses. To bring down the pollution level in Delhi, public transport has to be increased, and this is a step in that direction,” said Saxena.
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Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot highlighted future plans, stating, “By 2025, Delhi aims to have a total of 10,480 buses, with 80% (8,280 buses) being electric, saving 467,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.”
On a national level, India plans to replace 800,000 diesel buses with electric buses over the next seven years. This plan includes 200,000 electric buses for state transport companies, 550,000 for private operators, and 50,000 school buses and shuttles by 2030, according to a report by the Economic Times in January.
