The Indian government is gearing up to launch the Bharat Urban Megabus Mission, a massive initiative aimed at transforming urban transportation by introducing 100,000 electric buses in major cities across the country by 2025. This ambitious project, with a budget of ₹1.75 lakh crore, is part of India’s broader effort to improve public transport, reduce pollution, and promote sustainable urban mobility.
Electric Buses and Infrastructure Upgrade
The Bharat Urban Megabus Mission is designed to cover all cities with over a million residents, focusing on the integration of electric buses and supporting infrastructure. This includes bus stops, terminals, and depots to facilitate smoother operations. The mission will also create 5,000 kilometers of pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly streets, encouraging a shift toward non-motorized forms of travel. The initiative will run from 2025 to 2029-30, laying the groundwork for a cleaner, more efficient urban transportation system.
Boosting Public Transport Usage
One of the core goals of the mission is to increase the share of public transport in motorized trips. The government aims to raise this share to 60% by 2030 and 80% by 2036. At the same time, the mission is pushing for at least 50% of urban trips to be non-motorized—favoring walking and cycling—by 2030.
Promoting Cycling and Walking
With statistics showing that over 56% of urban trips in India are under 5 kilometers, the mission seeks to make these short-distance trips non-motorized. To achieve this, cycling tracks and cycle-on-hire services will be developed to bridge the gap between bus stops and workplaces. The government also aims to make walking and cycling more attractive by improving safety and convenience.
Financial Allocation
The ₹1.75 lakh crore budget will include ₹80,000 crore in viability gap funding for bus operations over five years, alongside ₹45,000 crore earmarked for upgrading infrastructure such as bus stops and terminals. This financial commitment underscores the government’s determination to modernize urban transport and enhance public mobility.
Focus on Pollution, Health, and Economy
According to a senior official from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Bharat Urban Megabus Mission targets three major objectives: reducing air pollution, improving public health, and boosting economic growth. With 65 million-plus cities in India identified for the project, the mission aims to offer an eco-friendly, efficient, and reliable alternative to private vehicles.
Building on PM eBus Sewa
The Bharat Urban Megabus Mission expands upon the PM eBus Sewa initiative, which was launched on a smaller scale last year to introduce 10,000 buses in cities with populations over 300,000. The new mission, however, is far more extensive, signaling the government’s heightened focus on sustainable urban transport solutions.
