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Bengaluru is set to receive 4,500 new electric buses under the Centre's PM E-DRIVE scheme, giving a major boost to the city's public transport system. The buses will be added to the fleet of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and are expected to improve connectivity while promoting cleaner and
more sustainable public transport. The Centre had allocated the largest share of electric buses under the scheme to Bengaluru.
Bengaluru's New Electric Buses
The Karnataka government has now approved the procurement of the 4,500 buses. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said tenders for the buses had already been called and awarded to six companies. Each bus is expected to cost between ₹1.2 crore and ₹1.5 crore.
The new fleet will include different types of buses. It will have 3,500 non-air-conditioned 12-metre buses, 300 air-conditioned 12-metre buses, 600 non-air-conditioned 9-metre buses and 100 air-conditioned 9-metre buses. This mix is expected to help BMTC meet the needs of different routes and passenger groups.
The addition of these buses will significantly increase BMTC's fleet. The corporation currently operates around 6,900 buses, including about 1,700 electric buses. Once the new buses are added, BMTC's total fleet is expected to cross the 10,000 mark. The corporation may also remove around 1,000 older buses from service.
The project had faced delays earlier, as Karnataka had not issued the required approval even after the Centre completed the tender process in December 2025. The delay had also raised concerns about the loss of a central subsidy of up to ₹1,505 crore.
The new electric buses are expected to provide Bengaluru commuters with more services and better connectivity while reducing dependence on diesel-powered vehicles. The move is also expected to support the city's transition towards cleaner and greener urban transportation.