Puducherry added 25 electric buses to its public transport network on 27 October 2025, marking a key step in the union territory’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable urban mobility.

The new fleet, operated by the Puducherry Road Transport Corporation (PRTC), was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, and Speaker R. Selvam at a ceremony attended by senior officials. The initiative forms part of the Government of Puducherry’s Smart City mission.

Manufactured by Olectra Greentech Ltd, the fleet includes 15 non-air-conditioned and 10 air-conditioned buses, each 9 metres in length. Designed for zero-emission and noise-free travel, the buses can cover up to 200 kilometres per charge.

The buses will be operated and maintained by Evey Trans Private Limited, a subsidiary of the MEIL Group, under a Gross Cost Contract for 12 years.

Expressing gratitude for the partnership, Mahesh Babu, Managing Director of Olectra Greentech Ltd, said:

“We are delighted to collaborate with the Government of Puducherry and PRTC to advance the Smart City mission through sustainable mobility. This project reinforces our commitment to building cleaner public transport infrastructure.”

Prototype buses were inspected and approved by transport authorities earlier this year before being officially rolled out.

According to company data, Olectra’s electric buses operating across India have collectively travelled over 440 million kilometres, saving approximately 135.4 million litres of diesel and reducing CO? emissions by 362.8 million kilograms—equivalent to planting 16.8 million trees.

Founded in 2000, Olectra Greentech Ltd introduced electric buses to India in 2015. The company now operates across 10 states and two union territories, serving over 75 cities and having delivered more than 3,000 electric vehicles. Beyond electric mobility, Olectra also manufactures silicone rubber and composite insulators for power transmission and distribution networks.