Odisha to Roll Out 600 New Electric Buses for Greener Urban Transport

Bhubaneswar: In a major push towards eco-friendly public transport, the Odisha government announced the induction of 600 new electric buses across the state. The initiative was unveiled today by Housing & Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mohapatra.

Highlighting the growing demand, Dr. Mohapatra said Odisha requires nearly 1,000 e-buses. Of this fleet, 200 will be procured by the State Government, while 400 will come under Central Government support through schemes launched under the leadership of the Prime Minister.

The rollout will begin with 25 e-buses in Sambalpur, followed by phased introduction in Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Berhampur, and Angul. Operations will be managed by Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) under its “Aam Bus” initiative, which aims to provide safe, affordable, and green mobility.

Odisha has already secured the 5th position nationally in e-bus operations, marking a significant step in sustainable transport. Nationwide, 14,329 e-buses are currently running under flagship schemes like PM-E Bus Sewa and PM-E Drive, with Odisha actively participating.

“With the rollout of 600 e-buses, Odisha is taking a decisive step towards greener cities and smarter urban transport,” Dr. Mohapatra stated.