The proposal to introduce electric buses in Belagavi under the Pradhan Mantri E-Bus Seva Yojana has been scrapped, with the government cancelling the entire e-bus procurement process. Instead, the State has opted to buy diesel-run buses, dealing a blow to expectations of cleaner urban transport in the city.
Belagavi was among 11 cities in Karnataka shortlisted for the electric bus rollout, but the project failed to take off even several years after the proposal was sent to the Central government. Other cities selected under the scheme included Mysuru, Mangaluru, Davanagere, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Ballari and Vijayapura.
As part of the plan, the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) had sought 210 electric buses—100 for Belagavi and 110 for Hubballi-Dharwad. The proposal, forwarded to the Centre in 2024, had progressed to an advanced stage in the tendering process.
The Central scheme aimed to encourage electric mobility in 169 cities nationwide through a public-private partnership model, with an estimated investment of about ₹20,000 crore. It proposed the deployment of 10,000 electric buses across the country, with a total project cost of ₹57,163 crore, including central assistance. As per 2011 Census criteria, the buses were to operate for 10 years in cities with populations above three lakh.
In Belagavi, preliminary arrangements were already underway, including the identification of space at the City Bus Stand for charging stations. However, officials said the project was abandoned due to battery-related concerns, technical issues, high maintenance costs and a rise in accidents involving electric buses.
According to government sources, the overall performance and operational feedback on electric buses fell short of expectations, leading to the decision to stop further purchases and switch to diesel buses instead. With this move, Belagavi’s prospects of receiving 100 electric buses have ended, delaying the much-anticipated e-bus service by at least another year.
Bus Shortage Deepens
The decision comes as Belagavi continues to grapple with a severe shortage of city buses. With a deficit of nearly 100 buses, the transport corporation has been unable to introduce new routes and has reduced services on several existing ones.
About three years ago, around 50 buses were added to the fleet by refurbishing old BMTC city buses at a cost of ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh each. However, frequent breakdowns have led to commuter inconvenience. For the past three years, Hatch buses have remained the mainstay of the city’s public transport.
As Belagavi’s population grows, road infrastructure expands and passenger demand increases, the need to strengthen the city’s transport network has become more pressing. Until then, commuters will have to wait longer for additional buses.
