Cabinet Approves “PM-eBus Sewa”

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to a bus scheme named “PM-eBus Sewa.” This scheme aims to enhance city bus operations through the introduction of 10,000 electric buses, following a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

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The Union Cabinet has also given its approval to a new Central Sector Scheme named “PM Vishwakarma.”

More About the “PM-eBus Sewa” Scheme

The “PM-eBus Sewa” scheme is estimated to cost around ₹57,613 crore, with a Central government support of ₹20,000 crore. This initiative will provide assistance for bus operations over a span of 10 years.

Reaching the Unreached

The scheme will encompass cities with a population of three lahks and above, based on the 2011 census. This includes all Union Territory capitals, the North Eastern Region, and hilly states. Priority will be given to cities without organized bus services.

Direct Employment Generation

The implementation of this scheme is projected to create around 45,000 to 55,000 direct jobs, as approximately 10,000 buses are deployed for city bus operations.

Segments of the scheme

The “PM-eBus Sewa” scheme comprises two main segments:

Segment A – Augmenting City Bus Services (169 cities):

This segment aims to enhance city bus operations by introducing 10,000 e-buses under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The scheme will also provide support for developing or upgrading depot infrastructure and establishing power infrastructure (such as substations) for e-buses.

Segment B – Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (GUMI) (181 cities):

This segment focuses on promoting green initiatives in urban mobility.
It includes initiatives like prioritizing buses, improving infrastructure, setting up multimodal interchange facilities, implementing NCMC-based Automated Fare Collection Systems, and establishing charging infrastructure for e-buses.

Support for Operation: The responsibility of running the bus services and making payments to bus operators lies with the States/Cities under the scheme. The Central Government will extend its support by offering subsidies as specified in the proposed scheme.

Boost to E-Mobility

The scheme is designed to boost e-mobility and provide comprehensive assistance for establishing essential power infrastructure.
It will also facilitate the establishment of charging facilities as part of the Green Urban Mobility Initiatives.
Furthermore, the support for bus priority infrastructure will not only expedite the adoption of advanced, energy-efficient electric buses but also stimulate innovation within the e-mobility sector and strengthen the electric vehicle supply chain.
This initiative aims to harness economies of scale by aggregating the procurement of electric buses, contributing to their widespread adoption.
The transition to electric mobility holds the promise of reducing noise and air pollution while curbing carbon emissions.
As more people shift to bus-based public transportation, a modal change will occur, leading to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

This comprehensive scheme envisions a greener and more sustainable urban transportation landscape.

Shubham Mittal

Shubham Mittal is a renowned current affairs writer and expert in government exam preparation, inspiring readers with insightful articles and guiding aspirants with his expertise.

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