J&K Govt Plans Procurement of 200 E-Buses Under PM e-Drive Scheme

The Jammu and Kashmir government has proposed the procurement of 200 additional electric buses under the Prime Minister e-Drive scheme, in a major push towards sustainable and modern public transport in the Union Territory.

The proposed expansion is expected to significantly strengthen electric mobility infrastructure while improving connectivity across key urban corridors.

According to an official government statement, the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) has initiated plans to induct additional e-buses as part of its long-term fleet modernisation strategy.

The proposal comes alongside a separate initiative by the Housing and Urban Development Department, which is already in the process of procuring 100 new electric buses for urban deployment.

Transport Minister Satish Sharma, in a written reply to BJP MLA Dr Devender Kumar Manyal, stated that the induction of these buses would allow authorities to assess the feasibility of extending electric bus services to new areas, including the Ramgarh constituency.

At present, dedicated e-bus connectivity from transport hubs such as airports, railway stations and bus terminals to certain tourist and semi-urban destinations remains limited due to infrastructure constraints and restricted fleet availability.

Fleet Expansion to Strengthen Urban Mobility

Implementation plans indicate that the additional 200 buses are likely to be distributed equally between Jammu and Srinagar under the Smart City initiatives.

Jammu Smart City Limited is expected to receive 100 buses, including a mix of 12-metre and 7-metre models, while Srinagar Smart City Limited will receive another 100 buses comprising 12-metre and 9-metre variants.

The diversified fleet configuration aims to support both high-capacity urban corridors and feeder route operations.

To support the rollout, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has sanctioned ₹14.28 crore towards power infrastructure under the Behind-the-Meter system, with an initial tranche already released for civil works and depot development.

Charging infrastructure and maintenance facilities are being fast-tracked at locations such as Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu and Bemina in Srinagar to ensure operational readiness.

The buses are expected to be deployed under a Public-Private Partnership model, with central operational assistance provided on a per-kilometre basis for up to ten years, ensuring financial viability and long-term sustainability.

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Improving JKRTC’s Financial and Operational Performance

The fleet expansion aligns with JKRTC’s improving financial performance over the past few years. Official data indicate that the corporation, which reported losses until 2020-21, has steadily improved its financial position.

The organisation posted a deficit of ₹15.55 crore in 2021-22, followed by surpluses of ₹12.27 crore in 2022-23, ₹22.54 crore in 2023-24 and ₹70.04 crore in 2024-25.

During the same period, revenue nearly doubled, rising from ₹114.96 crore to ₹243.06 crore, while dependency on government financial support declined.

JKRTC has also initiated asset monetisation efforts through Public-Private Partnership projects, including the development of Automated Testing Stations on identified land parcels in Jammu and Srinagar, expected to generate steady annual revenue.

Focus on Safety, Technology and Sustainability

As part of broader modernisation efforts, all JKRTC buses and trucks have been equipped with GPS tracking systems.

Electric buses are also integrated with Intelligent Command and Control Centres for real-time monitoring, while an Intelligent Transport Management System is being implemented to enhance safety and operational efficiency.

Additionally, JKRTC is undertaking fleet renewal measures, having auctioned 237 ageing vehicles during 2024-25, with further scrapping planned in the coming years to improve operational reliability and reduce maintenance costs.

The proposed procurement under the PM e-Drive scheme is expected to play a key role in reducing carbon emissions across Jammu and Kashmir.