The city of Chandigarh has emerged as the top recipient under the central government’s PM-eBus Sewa Scheme, securing approval for 328 new electric buses the largest single allocation across 20 Indian cities. The central sanctioning committee approved a total of 2,079 electric buses nationwide, of which Chandigarh received the lion’s share.
Under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs green-lit the buses during its latest Central Sanctioning and Steering Committee meeting. Chandigarh’s haul includes coverage for roughly its entire public bus fleet about 400 vehicles without any financial burden on the local administration, as the central government will fully fund the procurement.
Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria played a pivotal role in the successful push for the allocation, meeting with Union ministers to underscore the urgent need for an electric replacement of aging CTU and CCBSS buses nearing the end of their operational lifespan.
With 80 electric buses already operational on Tricity routes, the approval of 328 additional units marks a significant leap toward fully electrifying public transport in the region. The scheme supports the city’s electric fleet transition, positioning Chandigarh for cleaner, quieter, and more cost-effective urban mobility.
The central memorandum formalizing the approval is dated August 6, 2025, following a meeting held on July 24. Chandigarh was uniquely the only Union Territory to secure e-bus allocation during this round, while neighboring Mohali also received approval for 100 electric buses under a separate cluster allocation.
As electric buses begin to roll out in coming months, Chandigarh expects to expedite the shift away from diesel-powered transit, enhancing sustainability, reducing emissions, and laying groundwork for broader green mobility efforts across the region.
