Key Messages

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is a government organisation that operates the public transport bus service in Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) area and parts of the Bangalore Metropolitan Region (BMR). At present, BMTC is one of the better run bus transport systems in the country.Over the past decade, India’s cities have been witnessing an increasing trend in motorization with deteriorating air quality, and there have been calls to promote public transport as a way out of this gridlock. It is in this context that electric buses can play a positive role, as there are several benefits associated with the shift from conventional diesel buses to electric buses in terms of reduction in local pollution, noise, and fuel consumption. In spite of the many positive benefits related to the electric bus technology, certain challenges remain. Primary among these are costs and safety concerns.

Electric Buses in India: Technology, Policy and Benefits