Madhya Pradesh is facing delay in delivery of 552 electric buses this year. The central government had announced for 10,000 buses, but due to demand from other states, these buses may be available next year. The state government had sent the related proposal, but it has been delayed due to the objection and conditions of the Finance Department.
Madhya Pradesh is finding it difficult to get 552 electric buses from the Central Government this year also. The delivery of buses has got stuck due to the demand coming together from Madhya Pradesh and many other states to the Central Government. In December 2023, the Center had announced to run 10,000 buses in several states including Madhya Pradesh at a cost of Rs 57,000 crore under the PM e Bus service.
Delivery process going on for two years
Under the process of 552 electric buses which has been going on for almost two years, the buses were to be delivered this year, but now there is a possibility of getting the buses only next year. The proposal made by Madhya Pradesh was earlier stuck due to the objection of the Finance Department. . The Centre’s condition was that the company operating the e-buses would have to give a written undertaking to the state government to ensure payment. The Finance Department had raised objection on this.
The proposal was sent in October 2023
The company has to pay Rs 24 per km for standard bus, Rs 22 for midi bus and Rs 20 for mini bus. Later, the Urban Administration Department agreed to compensate the bus operators for their losses from the grant money of the urban bodies and sent the proposal in October 2023.
Here, in February this year, under the PM e-Bus Scheme, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav had approved the operation of 552 urban buses in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain and Sagar in the cabinet meeting. After this, the Urban Administration Department had sent a proposal to the Center for the supply of 552 buses. Indore is to get 150 electric buses, Bhopal, Ujjain and Jabalpur 100 each, Gwalior 70 and Sagar is to get 32 electric buses.
