Delhi boosts fleet with 300 electric buses

Delhi adds 300 electric buses to its public transport fleet, marking a significant expansion of the capital’s zero‑emission network.

New buses and depots ready for service

The city deployed 195 nine‑metre units and 105 twelve‑metre units on Tuesday, according to a report from The New Indian Express. The nine‑metre vehicles will serve the Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector (DEVi) program, which aims to link narrow residential streets and congested areas with main bus corridors and metro stations.

Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and other officials flagged off eleven of the nine‑metre buses as a symbolic start to the broader rollout. Those eleven units are Ecolife e9 models built by JBM Buses, the same type previously introduced in Gujarat.

The Ecolife e9 measures 8.86 m in length, 2.52 m wide, and 3.29 m tall, with a 4.75 m wheelbase. Details about the twelve‑metre variant have not been released.

Delhi’s transport authority announced that the new buses feature air conditioning, passenger information displays, real‑time GPS tracking, a panic button, and CCTV monitoring. A post on X highlighted these comfort and safety features.

Four electric‑bus depots opened alongside the vehicles. Two sites in Narela can accommodate 250 nine‑metre buses, while facilities in Rithala and Kohat Enclave hold 30 and 90 buses respectively.

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Growth targets and policy backdrop

With the latest addition, Delhi’s electric bus fleet now totals 4,845 vehicles, the largest in India. Gupta indicated the city plans to reach 7,000 e‑buses by the close of 2026 and aims to double that figure to 14,000 by 2028.

Earlier this month, the Delhi government introduced the Delhi EV Policy 2026, which remains in effect until March 31, 2030. The policy provides exemptions from road tax and registration fees, as well as incentives for purchasing electric vehicles and scrapping older models.

These measures align with broader national efforts to reduce emissions and promote cleaner transportation. The policy’s incentives are designed to make electric vehicles more affordable for both private owners and public operators.

While the fleet grows, the city continues to monitor performance metrics such as reliability, energy consumption, and passenger satisfaction.

Overall, the deployment reflects a concerted effort to shift public transport toward sustainability, leveraging both hardware and regulatory tools.