The KSRTC’s engineering team has completed the required groundwork, and all technical and logistical details have been submitted to the central office in Bengaluru.
| Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram

In anticipation of receiving nearly 100 electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa project, the Mysuru city division of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has identified 28 new intra-city routes and locations for establishing essential charging infrastructure. The preparations come even though there is no official confirmation on the exact date of the rollout.

To facilitate smooth operations, the Bannimantap depot is likely to be developed as a central hub for electric buses. The KSRTC’s engineering team has completed the required groundwork, and all technical and logistical details have been submitted to the central office in Bengaluru.

In the financial year 2024–25, the Mysuru division received 75 diesel buses to manage the increased passenger load owing to the launch of the Shakti scheme, which offers free rides for women. However, the current fleet continues to fall short, especially on certain high-demand routes, reinforcing the need for additional capacity.

Under the PM e-Bus Sewa, a part of the Centre’s Green Urban Mobility Initiative, 100 electric buses have been allotted to Mysuru. While the city was originally slated to receive 120 buses, the current allotment of 100 is expected to significantly ease congestion and improve service frequency.

The electric buses have been allotted for expanding and streamlining intra-city operations in Mysuru city under the Central project. As of now, Mysuru has no electric bus operated on the intra-city route unlike Bengaluru.

“These electric buses will help us strengthen the public transport network and extend services to areas beyond the Outer Ring Road (ORR),” said Veeresh H.T., Divisional Manager of the KSRTC Mysuru city division. “We have identified 28 new routes. With the new fleet, we’ll be able to increase schedules on these routes, offering better convenience to commuters.”

The PM e-Bus Sewa is being implemented under a Public-Private Partnership model, with financial support from the Union government. In addition to buses, the project includes the development of necessary charging infrastructure to support the transition to e-mobility. A key objective of the initiative is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and air pollution in urban areas by promoting electric public transport.

Electric buses – EV Power Plus – have already proven successful on inter-city routes such as Bengaluru–Mysuru, where the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The prototype, delivered under the FAME-2 scheme in December 2022, has helped showcase the potential of electric bus mobility.

With this initiative, Mysuru is set to join the ranks of cities like Bengaluru in deploying electric buses for intra-city travel, marking a significant step forward in sustainable urban mobility. “Unexplored routes, increased frequency during peak hours, and improved services on popular routes are all being considered as part of the rollout,” Mr. Veeresh added.