RSRTC issues third tender to procure 300 EV buses for Delhi-NCR routes, ET Infra
The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) has issued a tender for the third time to procure electric vehicle buses. The corporation plans to acquire 300 electric buses which are to be deployed on routes within the National Capital Region (NCR). Officials said that electric buses will be taken on contract, and bus operators will be paid up to ₹60 per km. Before this, tenders were invited in December 2024 and May 2025. Officials added that the tender for 300 buses is two-fold: one with the infrastructure for charging the buses and the second without charging infrastructure. The corporation aims to procure a total of 900 EVs, which will replace the existing diesel-based fleet used for these routes. For the initial 300 buses, RSRTC has floated the tender, said officials."Due to the two-fold nature of the tender, we have not received bids as expected till now. The tender has been floated for the 300 EVs that were announced in the state budget. By next month, we'll be able to understand what the response of the bidders is," said a senior official.Officials said that by June 2026, RSRTC will replace all its 900 buses currently plying on the Delhi-NCR routes with EV buses complying with the guidelines of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The corporation is also working on procuring 600 EV buses as part of a central government scheme, PM E-Drive, for which the state government has also given the sovereign guarantee, said officials."The PM E-Drive, which is the scheme of the Department of Heavy Industries, is primarily for intra-city operations, but we have requested the central government to allow us to procure buses under this scheme due to the requirements, explaining our situation," said Shubhra Singh, RSRTC chairperson.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Metro on way but city bus parked: BCLL bets on e-buses to bridge gap
Bhopal: As metro operations approach their launch, a significant portion of Bhopal City Link Limited (BCLL) city buses are currently non-operational. The metro system requires a supporting feeder network, primarily relying on BCLL services. However, BCLL's effectiveness hinges on the arrival of 100 electric buses to adequately meet passenger requirements. The anticipated deployment of electric buses via the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme offers a prospective resolution to address this challenge in the transportation network. BCLL CEO Anju Arun Kumar explained the issue with the BCLL bus service stemmed from a disagreement with an existing operator. While efforts are underway to resolve it, the matter had gone into litigation. In the meantime, the city has received approval for around 100 electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme. These are expected to start arriving by the end of the year. Alongside this, work is also in progress to develop the required charging infrastructure. Routes Await Ridership There are about 80 diesel buses and around 77 CNG buses which are on road. 149 buses are parked stationery under litigation. Regarding the emphasis on metro routes, concerns arise about bus connectivity to various areas of the state capital. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Sources indicate that due to the net cost model, certain operators have withdrawn services from routes that weren't financially viable. "If ridership picks up, service can resume on those routes," said Kumar. She mentioned that work is in progress to optimise bus routes, with required approvals being pursued from the regional transport office for implementing these route modifications. Most of the existing operators are still functioning, and there haven't been major problems with them. The number of buses on the road is above 100. Routes became slightly less profitable due to reduced ridership, which led to fewer buses operating on certain routes, she added. BCLL which is wholly owned subsidiary BMC, anticipates it will be first city off the block to start e-bus service. It is expected to receive first lot of electric buses before the year concludes. The administration has initiated tenders for charging facilities and depots, implementing the gross cost contract framework. The central administration will finance charging equipment entirely, while depot construction costs are shared between central and state authorities. BCLL has also proposed enhanced intracity transport connections to alleviate urban route congestion. Mayor Pass In Limbo BCLL and BMC are yet to decide whether mayor pass, a subsidised travel card to ensure affordable transport for students and economically disadvantaged passengers, will be part of e-bus service.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
PM-eBus Sewa: Karnataka minister urges Centre to give subsidies to states
The central govt should provide direct subsidies to state govts to procure electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, instead of allocating them to private operators under the PPP model, said Karnataka transport minister Ramalinga Reddy. He was speaking after inaugurating the new automated driving test track at Kamblapadavu in Pajir village, Ullal taluk, on Sunday. The procurement and operation of electric buses was easy during the UPA regime. While the central govt was providing 50 per cent of the fund, the state and its transport corporations had to invest 25 per cent each to operate buses. Now, under the NDA regime, buses are not given directly to states but instead procured through tenders, and the subsidy goes to the participating bidders. They will own the buses, hire drivers, and also maintain the vehicles while the state corporations have to appoint conductors and pay the operators on a kilometre basis. The minister suggested that the central govt should directly pay the subsidy to the state transport corporations across the nation. He added that a discussion in this regard was held with Union minister HK Kumaraswamy too. On 100 electric buses sanctioned to Mangaluru under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme, the minister said the depot and terminal will be developed soon after land was identified. On the new automated driving test track, Reddy said Karnataka will have the highest number of automated driving test stations in the country. "In fact, chief minister Siddaramaiah was scheduled to inaugurate the facility, which was developed at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore. However, due to technical reasons, the programme was postponed. Govt has been providing automated driving test tracks at 42 centres covering all districts in the state," he said. Karnataka assembly speaker UT Khader presided while Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, among others, were guests. Automated test to begin in 10 days RTO Sridhar K Mallad said the new automated driving test station set up as per the guidelines of the central govt will replace the manual inspections. "Further, it will increase efficiency while preventing corruption and interference of middlemen. There are separate automated driving test tracks for two-wheelers, light motor vehicles, and heavy vehicles," he said. "The manual facility at Vamanjoor will be shifted to the new facility at Kamblapadavu within a few days. The new automated driving test track will be made operational within 10 days after the services are linked to the NIC. Once the linking process is completed, applicants can book slots for tests online," he said.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
RSRTC floats third tender for 300 electric buses, aims full transition on NCR routes by 2026
The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation ( RSRTC ) has floated a fresh tender — the third in a series — to procure 300 electric buses for operation within the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), Times of India reports. The move is part of the state-run transport body's broader plan to phase out its current diesel-powered fleet in favour of cleaner, electric alternatives. Officials said the latest tender has been designed with two components: one that includes charging infrastructure for the EVs and another that excludes it. Operators will be taken on contract and paid up to ₹60 per kilometre. This tender follows earlier unsuccessful attempts in December 2024 and May 2025. "Due to the two-fold nature of the tender, we have not received the kind of bids we anticipated. However, we're hopeful that this round will generate better participation. The 300 EVs were part of the commitment made in the state budget," said a senior RSRTC official. A long term strategy The corporation plans to replace a total of 900 diesel buses on NCR routes with electric vehicles by June 2026 in accordance with guidelines issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Officials said the current tender is a part of that broader strategy. In addition to this, RSRTC is also pursuing the procurement of another 600 EV buses under the central government's PM E-Drive scheme . 'Although the scheme is primarily designed for intra-city operations, we have made a special request to the Centre for inclusion under intercity operations, explaining the needs of RSRTC,' said RSRTC chairperson Shubhra Singh. The state government has extended a sovereign guarantee for these 600 buses under PM E-Drive, reinforcing its commitment to cleaner public transport and enhanced air quality in the region.
