Hyderabad Gets 60 New Electric Buses as Part of Green Transport Expansion

Hyderabad's public transport network took another step towards sustainability on May 27 as Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar inaugurated 60 new electric buses at the Kukatpally depot. The launch ceremony, which included a ceremonial lamp lighting by the minister, brought together key stakeholders including Kukatpalli MLA Madhavaram Krishna Rao, MLC Naveen, RTC Managing Director Nagi Reddy, and Medchal district collector Manu Choudary.

Addressing the gathering, Prabhakar underscored the government's resolve to combat air pollution through an expansion of green public transport infrastructure. He expressed concern that without proactive measures, Hyderabad risked joining the ranks of India's most polluted metropolitan areas. The minister announced plans to deploy an additional 2,200 electric buses across Telangana through a central government scheme, with the ultimate goal of fielding 3,000 electric vehicles by 2027.

According to the minister's projections, a fleet of 3,000 electric buses could eliminate nearly 600 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The state currently operates 960 electric buses, of which 545 operate within Hyderabad city limits, while 580 buses service intercity routes. Across Telangana, the RTC manages approximately 10,000 buses overall, with roughly 1,000 classified as electric vehicles.

The push for electrification aligns with broader urban development goals. As the city expands, the RTC expects the transition to lower-emission buses to simultaneously reduce traffic congestion in urban areas. Daily ridership on RTC services in the twin cities stands at nearly 35 lakh passengers, underscoring the scale of the public transport operation.

Since the Congress government assumed office, the RTC has undergone significant reforms, including fresh recruitment drives and fleet modernisation. Prabhakar reaffirmed the administration's commitment to worker welfare, noting that senior officials meet fortnightly to address grievances. The RTC will soon conduct union recognition elections and engage in discussions with worker representatives.

On the social front, the minister highlighted the success of the Mahalakshmi scheme, which has enabled women to utilise 310 crore tickets at no cost. Beyond free travel provisions, the government is actively encouraging women to participate as bus owners, broadening economic opportunities within the transport sector.

Responding to a direct appeal from the Kukatpalli MLA, Prabhakar announced the establishment of a new depot at KPHB. He instructed RTC and district officials to petition Housing Board authorities for allocation of five acres to facilitate the expansion. The minister indicated that the Kukatpalli area would soon see extensive deployment of electric buses, positioning it as a model pollution-free zone as the city's residential footprint continues to grow.