The Odisha government has taken stock of progress on a plan to introduce hydrogen powered public transport, with the Housing and Urban Development department conducting a high level review. The project is being implemented jointly by the capital region urban transport agency (CRUT), NTPC and GRIDCO after a tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed in December 2024. The additional chief secretary of the department reviewed the progress at a meeting in Bhubaneswar.

The proposal envisages establishment of a green hydrogen production and refuelling facility at the capital region urban transport depot in Pokhariput, along with deployment of three hydrogen fuel cell electric buses as a pilot. The project aims to generate about 260 kilogram (kg) of green hydrogen per day and to operate buses capable of running up to 600 km daily. The pilot is intended to demonstrate operational feasibility for urban mobility and refuelling logistics.

Planners expect the initiative to eliminate tailpipe emissions and to reduce nearly 900 tonne (t) of carbon dioxide per year, contributing to the state’s environmental sustainability objectives. Under the tripartite arrangement NTPC will develop and operate the hydrogen infrastructure, GRIDCO will facilitate power supply and subsidy mechanisms, and CRUT will manage bus operations and services. The meeting reviewed obligations under the MoU and clarified institutional roles.

Initial deployment was suggested along the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Khordha-Puri-Konark corridor to ensure route viability and service patterns. Discussions also covered land allotment, regulatory approvals, viability gap funding and interagency coordination to support roll out. Total capital investment is estimated at Rs 535.5 mn, of which Rs 195.2 mn has been sanctioned as financial assistance under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with the balance proposed from stakeholder contributions and applicable state support.