Delay in Karnataka Approval Could Put Bengaluru 4500 Electric Bus Allocation at Risk
Bengaluru may lose part of its sanctioned electric bus allocation as several states seek additional buses while Karnataka is yet to complete the approval and work order process.
Bengaluru’s planned expansion of its electric public transport fleet has entered a phase of uncertainty as delays in the state government’s approval process could affect the allocation of 4500 electric buses sanctioned under the PM E DRIVE scheme. With work orders still pending, several other states have reportedly approached the central government seeking additional buses for their own transport networks.
According to reports, cities and states including Surat, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, and Jammu and Kashmir have submitted requests for extra electric buses. Together, these proposals account for 4220 additional buses, raising concerns that part of Bengaluru’s allocation could be reassigned if the current delay continues.
The central government had completed the tender process for Bengaluru’s electric buses in December 2025. However, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation has not yet issued the required work order because it is awaiting approval from the Karnataka cabinet. In contrast, Hyderabad issued its work order in February, Surat followed in March, and Ahmedabad completed the process later that month. Delhi is also expected to issue its work order soon.
Officials from the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries have reportedly expressed concern over the delay. The ministry is said to have informed the Karnataka government that work orders should have been issued within four weeks after receiving the demand confirmation letter. It has also urged the state to complete the contractual formalities without further delay.
Under the PM E DRIVE scheme, Bengaluru has been sanctioned central financial assistance of up to Rs 1505 crore for the procurement of 4500 electric buses. The approved fleet includes 3500 non AC 12 meter buses, 300 AC 12 meter buses, 600 non AC 9 meter buses, and 100 AC 9 meter buses. The project is expected to strengthen the city’s public transport system while promoting cleaner mobility.
Across the country, approval has been granted for 14028 electric buses under the same scheme, and procurement has already been completed for around 13800 buses. Pune has issued work orders for 1000 buses, while Mumbai is expected to complete its process before the end of the month.
The delay has also sparked political debate. Recently, Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya questioned the Karnataka government’s pace in moving forward with the electric bus project. The state government has maintained that procedural approvals are still underway, while Transport Minister Bairati Suresh has addressed the reasons behind the delay in separate statements.
If the approval process is not completed soon, there is growing concern that Bengaluru could miss out on part of the electric bus allocation, potentially slowing efforts to improve the city’s public transport network and accelerate the shift toward cleaner urban mobility.
