Delhi Gets 50 New Electric Buses Under FAME India Phase II Scheme

As many as 50 new electric buses were launched in Delhi with the support under Central government's FAME India Phase II scheme, said the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries on Monday (2 January).

The Centre had approved Phase-II of FAME Scheme with an outlay of Rs 10,000 Crore for a period of 3 years commencing from 1 April 2019.

Out of total budgetary support, about 86 percent of fund has been allocated for demand incentive so as to create demand for electic vehicles in the country.

Heavy Industries Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey said that under the FAME II Scheme, Cities/state transport utilities/state governments placed supply orders for 3,538 electric buses.

Out of those, a total of 1,716 electric buses have been deployed as on 2 January 2023.

He further stated that 400 electric buses were sanctioned for the Union Territory of Delhi in August 2019. These included 300 electric buses to Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) for intra city operations and 100 electric buses to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for last mile connectivity.

"The supply orders were to be placed by 15 January, 2020. DMRC issued supply order in December 2019 to the successful Bidders whereas Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) could only issue supply order in March 2021.  To facilitate DTC, MHI extended last date of supply order by DTC 31 March 2021, as a special case for providing pollution free world class transit system to Delhi," the Heavy Industries Ministry said in a statement.

A total of 250 buses have already been deployed by DTC and now the remaining 50 buses have been launched, fulfilling commitment of MHI to provide 300 electric buses to DTC, the ministry said.

The Central government will be giving incentive of Rs 165 crore to DTC for these 300 electric buses, it added.