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Centre approves 10,000 e-buses for Bengaluru, Delhi, other cities; none for Pune

An analysis of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd data by The Indian Express in April showed that the number of buses in the city has remained around the 2,000 figure since at least 2022

puneIt may look amazing on the balance sheet, but then, the real essence of public transport is to make it available as an option for one and all (File Photo)

Pune has not been allotted any e-buses under the PM E-Drive in a recent announcement by the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries. On Friday, Minister H D Kumaraswamy approved the rollout of electric buses under the scheme with Bengaluru being allocated 4,500 buses, Delhi getting 2,800 buses, Hyderabad getting 2,000 buses, Ahmedabad getting 1,000 buses, and Surat getting 600 buses.

Pune has been reeling under a shortage of buses for at least four years. An analysis of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) data by The Indian Express in April showed that the number of buses in the city has remained around the 2,000 figure since at least 2022. In April 2022 PMPML’s fleet numbers stood at 1,959, in February 2023 at 2,083, in February 2024 at 2,009, and in February 2025 at 1,916.

A study by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) in January highlighted that Pune had only half the buses it required. According to the institute Pune requires 4,500 buses as compared to the 2,000 it has had over the past few years. Pune Metropolitan Region’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan developed by Pune Metro and Assystem paints an even bleaker picture. The plan says that based on Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs guidelines of 60 buses per lakh population, PMPML required 6,228 by 2024. This means that the city is 4,000 buses short.

Responding to a question about Pune not being allotted buses, Pune MP and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Muralidhar Mohol on Monday said, “After the state government’s proposal goes to the Ministry only then the buses can be approved. There is a system in place, the state government has to send the proposal. We have discussed this with CM Devendra Fadnavis.”

In October 2024, Muralidhar Mohol had announced that a proposal to get 1,000 buses for Pune had been submitted to Kumaraswamy. He wrote on his official X account, “While the metro network is expanding in Pune city, we are focusing on empowering PMPML and have submitted a proposal to the Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Hon. Shri. HD Kumaraswamy Ji, to get 1,000 new e-buses for PMPML through the Modi government. Moreover, regarding this proposal, the current number of buses in Pune city, its requirement and future requirement were discussed. On this, Hon. Minister has also directed the officials to take action and process his proposal.”

Nitin Narvekar, Joint Managing Director of PMPML told The Indian Express, “Our proposal for 1000 e-buses has already been given to the authorities and we are awaiting their response.” He also said that he was not aware of the recent bus allocation to other cities and that the organisation had not received any intimation or any timeline regarding the delivery of Pune’s buses.

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More


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