Concession agreement signed in presence of Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Saw; Green cities and environment-friendly transport will get a boost

Preparations underway to operate 20 e-buses each in Bilaspur and Bhilai from November

Raipur, October 2026. The Urban Administration and Development Department is moving rapidly towards putting 240 electric buses on the roads in Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg-Bhilai and Korba under the Pradhan Mantri E-Bus Seva Yojana. In the presence of Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration Minister Shri Arun Sao, concession agreements were signed today between the four municipal corporations and the selected agency, Chartered Speed ​​Limited. These four cities have taken a major step towards starting e-bus operations. The department is preparing to start operating 20 e-buses each in Bilaspur and Bhilai in the coming November.

Citizens will get modern and environment-friendly public transport system

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Saw, speaking at the concession agreement signing ceremony held at his residence in Naya Raipur, stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the country is promoting the development of modern infrastructure and environmental protection. The Pradhan Mantri e-Bus service is an important initiative towards a clean, green, and developed India. With increasing urbanization, challenges such as traffic, air pollution, and fuel consumption are increasing. Electric buses will increase energy efficiency, reduce dependence on conventional fuels, and reduce noise pollution.

He said that public transportation systems should be tailored to the needs of citizens. It is essential to provide convenient transportation to educational institutions, hospitals, tourist attractions, and other important locations. E-bus services will provide better transportation options for citizens and help modernize cities. Effective implementation of plans and coordination between departments are essential for this.

100 buses will run in Raipur, 50 each in Durg-Bhilai and Bilaspur and 40 in Korba.

In the first phase of the plan, 100 electric buses are planned to be operated in Raipur, 50 in Durg-Bhilai, 50 in Bilaspur, and 40 in Korba. As per the target, 20 buses each are planned to be operational in Bhilai and Bilaspur by November 2026.

Payment through mobile scanner and online ticketing facility will be available

For passenger safety, each e-bus will be equipped with six cameras. A mobile app will also provide bus route information. Electric buses will help reduce carbon emissions. The development of charging stations, maintenance centers, and other infrastructure will also create direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Emphasis on timely implementation

Principal Secretary of the Urban Administration and Development Department, Mr. Sonmani Bora, briefed the program on the objectives of the plan and preparations for its implementation. He stated that modernization of public transportation is essential given the growing population and transportation needs in cities. The plan's success requires the development of necessary infrastructure, including charging systems, depots, bus stops, and maintenance centers, departmental coordination, and timely completion of work. He emphasized the importance of developing transportation facilities tailored to citizens' needs and completing operational preparations on time. Director of the Urban Administration and Development Department, Mr. Nilesh Mahadev Kshirsagar, Chief Executive Officer of the State Urban Development Agency (SUDA), Mr. Sumit Agarwal, and Managing Director of Chartered Speed ​​Limited, Mr. Pankaj Gandhi, were also present at the program.