In a bold move to accelerate the shift toward cleaner urban mobility, Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) has announced a major tender to procure 10,900 electric buses under India’s National Electric Bus Programme (NEBP) and the PM e‑Bus Sewa initiative. The tender is scheduled to open on 6 November 2025 and targets deployment across key cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Surat.
This procurement represents one of the largest e-bus orders ever announced in India and reflects the government’s increasing focus on scalable, zero-emission public transport. The move underscores a commitment to reducing urban air pollution and embracing sustainable mobility in densely populated metro regions.
According to CESL officials, the breakdown of the tender includes approximately 4,500 buses for Bengaluru, about 2,800 for Delhi, roughly 2,000 for Hyderabad, and nearly 1,600 combined for Ahmedabad and Surat. The fleet will comprise a mix of standard-floor, low-floor and BRT-type buses – both AC and non-AC – adapted to diverse urban contexts. Under a Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, selected operators will manage and maintain the buses, while the government pays per service-kilometre of operation.
The tender is part of India’s broader push under the PM e-Bus Sewa to deploy 50,000 e-buses nationwide by 2030. Through the NEBP, CESL aggregates demand and streamlines procurement across states, aiming to cut costs, boost manufacturing under the Make in India initiative and improve overall efficiency in the electric mobility ecosystem. The technology-neutral tender invites participation from a wide range of bus OEMs and EV manufacturers, thereby expanding competition and innovation in the e-bus segment.
Beyond simply replacing diesel buses, the initiative is designed to stimulate India’s electric-mobility ecosystem. The tender includes provisions for setting up charging infrastructure, maintenance depots, and gender-inclusive employment opportunities (such as women drivers and engineers). Each e-bus is estimated to reduce about 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions over its lifetime — promising substantial environmental benefits once the full fleet is operational.
Nevertheless, the announcement comes with its share of challenges. Industry experts point to critical dependencies such as infrastructure readiness (charging depots, grid stability, maintenance), and highlight that earlier e-bus tenders under FAME II faced delays due to battery supply constraints and deployment bottlenecks. CESL has responded by emphasising lessons learned from earlier phases and pledging stronger contract management and depot readiness to ensure faster rollout and higher operational reliability.
