Karnataka To Get Electric Buses In Phased Manner Under PM E-Drive Scheme

The Government of Karnataka has officially submitted a request to the Ministry of Heavy Industries, seeking electric buses for its cities under the PM E-Drive scheme. The proposal was put forward by State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who highlighted the need to improve public transport in urban areas.

In response, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, held discussions with senior ministry officials. He assured Karnataka of central support and confirmed that the allocation process has started. Buses will be provided in a phased and prioritised manner.

The PM E-Drive scheme, which began on April 1, 2024, aims to deploy over 14,000 electric buses across nine major cities by March 31, 2026. The scheme has a financial outlay of ₹10,900 crore. Karnataka is one of the states set to benefit from this central initiative.

H.D. Kumaraswamy, Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, said, “I will ensure that Karnataka receives all due support from the Government of India. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, we are transforming public mobility across India. Karnataka will definitely receive buses under PM E-Drive. The Union Minister added: “We are not just distributing buses — we are building a cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive transport future for the people of India. Karnataka Transport Minister Shri Ramalinga Reddy has my full cooperation and that of the Ministry.”

Centre–state discussions have also included planning for supporting infrastructure such as charging stations, bus depots, and maintenance systems. Both governments are working on implementation models to enable timely rollout in selected urban areas.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries has said it will continue working with state governments to implement the scheme. The coordination aims to improve public transport networks while supporting the larger goal of cleaner mobility.