In a serious push in direction of sustainable city mobility, the Karnataka authorities has allotted 9,000 new electrical buses to the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Company (BMTC) underneath varied central and externally aided tasks, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah introduced in his funds speech on Thursday.
Bengaluru to get 9,000 new electrical buses for higher public infrastructure. (HT Photograph)
Additionally Learn – Karnataka Price range 2025: DK Shivakumar slams BJP over fund allocation to state in Union Price range
A complete of 14,750 electrical buses shall be inducted throughout Karnataka in 2025-26 underneath schemes corresponding to PM e-DRIVE, PM-eBus Sewa, and different externally funded tasks. Of those, BMTC will obtain the lion’s share, reinforcing the town’s dedication to decreasing vehicular air pollution and enhancing public transport.
Moreover, the federal government plans to introduce 1,000 new diesel buses throughout totally different state transport firms underneath the Gross Price Contract (GCC) mannequin to enhance connectivity in areas the place electrical mobility is but to realize traction.
Additionally Learn – Price range 2025: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah requires ‘fair’ strategy from Centre, submits calls for
KR Puram to get new facelift
To reinforce transport infrastructure, a brand new satellite tv for pc bus stand shall be constructed at Okay.R. Puram within the jap a part of Bengaluru underneath a public-private partnership (PPP) mannequin. This can assist for higher motion of site visitors in east Bengaluru which frequently faces large site visitors jams.
Moreover, Bengaluru’s Majestic bus stand, the town’s major transit hub, shall be redeveloped underneath the Mission Majestic scheme into a contemporary transport hub with a business advanced.
The funds additionally highlighted the Shakthi scheme, Karnataka’s flagship free bus journey initiative for girls, which has seen over 226 crore journeys by girls passengers. The federal government spent ₹5,015 crore on the scheme in 2024-25 and has earmarked ₹5,300 crore for the upcoming monetary 12 months to additional empower girls commuters.
With these allocations, the Karnataka authorities goals to enhance city mobility, decongest Bengaluru’s roads, and make public transport extra sustainable and accessible. Nevertheless, there’s a demand from the general public to make the transport system reasonably priced for frequent public as BMTC has just lately hiked fare costs.