With its beautiful beaches, vibrant cafes, unforgettable nightlife pubs, colourful shopping and serene Auroville, Puducherry, a little Goa that attracts tourists from everywhere, is constantly striving to improve its tourism.

This beautiful Union Territory is set for a serious green upgrade. The government has announced that 25 new electric buses will be added to the public transport system within a month!

25 new electric buses launched

Taking a significant step towards converting the public transport sector to electric vehicles, the Puducherry Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) has set an ambitious target to completely electrify its vehicle fleet by December 2025. As a part of this transformation, the Puducherry Transport Department has already placed an order for 25 electric buses using Rs 23 crore sanctioned under the Smart City project.

Electric buses are silent heroes

Conventional diesel buses emit harmful pollutants into the air, leading to respiratory problems and environmental degradation. But, electric buses are silent heroes. They run on clean electricity, leading to zero emissions from the tailpipe. This will provide clean air to everyone in Pondicherry, making it a healthier place to live, work and visit.

Noise pollution-free travel

Quiet travel The constant rumble of diesel engines is a familiar and often unpleasant sound in busy cities. E-buses are a welcome change. They run silently on the roads, reducing noise pollution significantly. Offering a quiet ride instead of horn noise and engine noise.

Affordable eco-friendly travel

Electric buses are not only good for the environment, but they also save money. Electricity is usually cheaper than diesel, reducing the operating costs of public transport authorities. It is worth mentioning that these savings can later be reinvested in expanding and improving public transport.

Green urban development

The introduction of 25 electric buses is just the beginning of Puducherry’s electrification journey. As the infrastructure for electric vehicles continues to develop, we can expect a large number of electric buses on the roads in the coming years. This shift towards sustainable transport will not only benefit Puducherry’s environment and public health, but will also establish the city as a model for green urban development in India.

Approval from Puducherry government

The Puducherry Transport Department has estimated the requirement of 75 buses – of which 50 buses will be 12 metres long and the remaining 25 buses will be 9 metres long. This includes operating costs along with per kilometre subsidy. Behind-the-meter infrastructure will be set up to support charging stations. Transport Commissioner A.S. Sivakumar said the department is currently evaluating the tariff, service quality and experience of the selected operator. After a thorough review, the project will be submitted for approval to the Puducherry government. After the approval, a letter of agreement (LoA) will be issued to finalise the deal, the announcement said.

Extension of service to outer districts

The electric buses will ply mainly on urban and interstate routes in Puducherry, and will not be used for interstate operations. The transport department aims to replace the entire fleet of diesel buses in Puducherry with electric buses by December. The change will be extended to other outer districts later.