Bhubaneswar: In a significant push towards sustainable urban development and eco-friendly public transport, the Odisha Cabinet has approved a comprehensive project with a total outlay of ₹1952.56 crore for the operation of 200 new midi electric buses over the next 10 years.
This major initiative is set to enhance city transport services and reduce the state’s carbon footprint, aligning with the ambitious national visions of ‘Vikshit Odisha,’ ‘Vikshit Bharat,’ and ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat,’ with a view to building a fully developed state by 2047.
The 200 electric buses will be strategically deployed across six major cities, grouped under two packages to ensure widespread development of green mobility infrastructure.
The project scope goes beyond bus procurement, including the establishment of critical support facilities such as bus charging infrastructure, depot construction, and robust, comprehensive operation and maintenance systems in all six cities.
The scheme’s core objective is to significantly upgrade urban transport facilities while actively combating urban pollution and reducing carbon emissions. This commitment will ensure a sustainable and environment-friendly public transport system for lakhs of commuters.
The Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), the agency currently managing public transit, serves a massive user base, operating 670 buses on various routes and catering to over three lakh passengers daily. This new fleet of electric buses is expected to further boost safe, efficient, and eco-friendly travel options for citizens in the expanded service areas.