12,717 Electric Buses to Replace APSRTC Diesel Fleet by 2029

In a significant move towards sustainable public transport, the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has unveiled a comprehensive plan to phase out diesel buses and introduce electric buses across the state.

The initiative aligns with the state's newly announced Electric Vehicles (EV) Policy 2024-2029, which aims to make the APSRTC fleet fully electric by 2029.

According to reports, over the next five years, APSRTC will replace all diesel-operated buses, targeting a total of 12,717 electric buses. This includes 10,155 buses owned by the corporation and 2,562 vehicles on rental agreements. Officials have formulated a phased strategy to execute this transition efficiently.

In compliance with the Motor Vehicles Act, government buses older than 15 years must be scrapped. Within the next five years, APSRTC projects that 2,537 buses will surpass the 15-year threshold and will be decommissioned. These vehicles will be substituted with electric buses to align with the sustainability goals.

Furthermore, buses covering extensive mileage will also be retired. According to APSRTC data, AC buses completing 12 lakh kilometers, Ultra Deluxe buses exceeding 10 lakh kilometers, Super Luxury buses running 8 lakh kilometers, Saptagiri Express buses operating on the Tirumala Ghat route after covering 6.5 lakh kilometers, Metro Express buses exceeding 8 lakh kilometers, Palle Velugu services running 12 lakh kilometers, and City Ordinary buses crossing 13 lakh kilometers will be phased out. By 2029, APSRTC plans to scrap and replace 5,731 such buses. Additionally, the corporation aims to induct 1,698 buses during the 2025-29 period and add 2,726 more electric buses by 2029.

The electrification plan raises concerns regarding its economic feasibility for APSRTC. Procuring electric buses, priced between Rs 1.80 crore and Rs 2 crore per unit, poses financial challenges for the corporation. Officials, however, remain optimistic, citing a steady decline in the prices of electric buses in recent years. They anticipate further price reductions, which would make large-scale adoption more affordable.

While the specifics of ownership versus rental agreements are yet to be clarified, APSRTC is exploring cost-effective solutions, including private partnerships and subsidies.

To support electric mobility in urban areas, the central government has approved the deployment of 750 electric buses in 11 cities under the Prime Minister EBus Service Scheme. These buses will be operated on a rental basis, with the Centre offering a direct subsidy of Rs 35 lakh per vehicle to the operating companies.

The cities benefitting under this initiative include Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Nellore, Amaravati, Kadapa, Kurnool, Anantapur, Tirupati, Kakinada, and Rajahmundry. Each city will receive a specific allocation of electric buses under this scheme, with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs overseeing the tendering process, selecting service providers, and finalizing per-kilometer operational charges.

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has urged the Centre to prioritize Tirupati for additional electric buses. In a formal communication to the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, the Chief Minister requested the sanction of 300 more buses under the EBus Service Scheme to cater to the city’s growing transportation needs.

The state government believes that Tirupati, a major pilgrim destination, requires enhanced public transport infrastructure to accommodate the surge in daily commuters and pilgrims.