Kerala Transport Minister Rejects Union Government's Offer of 950 E-Buses, Citing Sufficiency of Diesel Buses

Kochi: The Union Government's proposal to provide 950 electric buses under the ‘Pradhan Mantri E-Bus Seva’ initiative has met resistance from Kerala's Transport Minister K B Ganeshkumar of the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). The minister stated that the state does not require the buses, and the file has been returned, emphasizing that there are already sufficient buses operating in Cherthala and Kayamkulam, the cities mentioned in the offer.

Despite the proposal including Thiruvananthapuram, Ganeshkumar insisted that there is no space for additional buses in the capital. He maintained that new diesel buses are adequate for the state's needs. The transport department has approached the Finance Department to request ₹93 crore allocated in the Plan Fund for purchasing 555 diesel buses, justifying the preference for diesel over electric by arguing that the state would need to source an additional ₹42 crore even if the Centre provided the e-buses for free.

Allegations have surfaced suggesting that the minister's decision reflects a possible quid pro quo concerning the purchase of diesel buses, raising concerns about the state's interests. The Union Government's initiative includes a total of 10,000 electric buses for 169 cities across India, designed to promote green mobility with advanced features such as an automatic bus fare payment system.

Kerala had previously expressed interest in acquiring 300 electric buses of 12 meters in length, specifically for Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. The proposal would also require the state to cover fuel expenses and share revenue based on kilometers driven, with a projected profit margin of ₹1,015 per kilometer for the state.

As other states have successfully secured a total of 3,975 electric buses, critics are voicing concerns over the apparent neglect of Kerala's interests for the sake of diesel bus purchases.

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