Telangana Deploys 60 New Electric Buses in Hyderabad as Part of Green Transport Initiative

Hyderabad's transport infrastructure has taken a significant step forward with the inauguration of 60 electric buses at the Kukatpally bus depot. Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar oversaw the event, which brought together Kukatpally MLA Madhavaram Krishna Rao, MLC Naveen, RTC Managing Director Nagireddy, and Medchal district collector Manu Choudhary.

The initiative falls under the state government's Green Challenge programme, designed to shift Telangana's public transport system towards cleaner, more sustainable operations. Speaking at the event, Ponnam emphasised the government's broader vision to introduce additional electric buses by 2027, with the aim of significantly reducing pollution levels across the state.

Telangana's electric bus fleet has grown substantially, with 960 vehicles now operating across the region. Of these, 545 buses are deployed within Hyderabad city limits, while 580 serve inter-city routes. The state is positioned to expand this fleet considerably, with plans to receive another 2,200 buses under a central government programme.

The environmental benefits of this transition are substantial. According to the transport minister, deploying 3,000 electric buses could eliminate approximately 600 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. This reduction becomes increasingly important as Ponnam highlighted the pollution challenges that cities like Delhi face, positioning Hyderabad's electric mobility push as a preventive measure.

Beyond environmental concerns, the minister pointed to economic pressures facing the transport sector. Rising fuel costs have strained public transport systems, making the shift to electric vehicles economically prudent alongside the environmental advantages. The RTC currently operates approximately 10,000 buses in total, with nearly 1,000 of these being electric vehicles.

The scale of Hyderabad's public transport system underscores the importance of this transition. Daily ridership across the twin cities reaches nearly 35 lakh passengers, making efficient and clean transport infrastructure a public health priority. Electric buses are expected to contribute to reducing both air pollution and traffic congestion in the expanding metropolitan area.

Looking ahead, depot infrastructure will need to expand to accommodate the growing electric bus fleet. Ponnam indicated that coordination is underway between district officials, RTC authorities, and Housing Board officials regarding the allocation of five acres for a new depot at Kukatpally, supporting the long-term sustainability of the programme.