Uttar Pradesh Approves 1,725 Electric Buses Across 18 Cities

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Friday approved the deployment of 1,725 air-conditioned (AC) electric buses across 18 cities in the state. The buses will operate under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, with a contract period of 12 years. The initiative aims to expand electric bus services and strengthen urban public transportation across the state.

Under the plan, Lucknow and Kanpur will receive 300 electric buses each, followed by 250 buses for Varanasi and 150 for Gorakhpur. Agra, Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Noida, including Jewar, will receive 100 buses each. Additionally, Ayodhya, Prayagraj, and Mathura-Vrindavan will get 50 buses each, while Aligarh, Firozabad, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Saharanpur, and Jhansi will receive 25 buses each. The fleet will comprise 9-metre and 12-metre AC electric buses.

Under the GCC model, private operators will be selected through a competitive bidding process. The selected operators will be responsible for procuring the electric buses, setting up charging infrastructure at depots, hiring drivers, and managing day-to-day operations. However, the state government will retain control over passenger fares and other user charges.

The state government will provide a financial subsidy of Rs 40 lakh for each 12-metre electric bus and Rs 35 lakh for each 9-metre bus. In addition, municipal corporations and the Noida Authority will provide land free of cost for depot construction. These measures are intended to support the deployment and operation of electric buses across the selected cities.

The initiative will combine private-sector participation with government support to expand electric public transport services in Uttar Pradesh. Along with increasing the availability of electric buses, the plan will facilitate the development of depot charging infrastructure and establish a long-term operating framework for the fleet across the 18 cities.