Andhra Pradesh Pushes Electric Buses To Boost Public Transport

13 Apr 2026 CW Team

The chief minister directed officials to optimise fuel costs and reported that electric bus operations currently run at Rs 72 per km, a figure intended to guide comparative assessments with conventional fleets. He urged rapid expansion of charging infrastructure and called for the standardisation of batteries to reduce lifecycle expenses and enable interoperability. There was a particular push to convert existing bus fleets into air conditioned electric vehicles to improve passenger comfort and encourage modal shift.

Officials were instructed to prioritise highway connectivity to ports and to strengthen maintenance regimes for roads traversing areas of black cotton soil, which demand specialised engineering responses. The government assessed that improved corridors would unlock economic activity and catalyse industrial development across the state, supporting logistics and export oriented growth. Major highway projects were reported to be planned with completion targets set within two years to expedite these benefits.

The review concluded with a call for coordinated planning between transport, energy and urban development departments to mobilise financing and technical support for the transition. Emphasis was placed on developing clear timelines, performance benchmarks and public charging networks to attract investment and lower per kilometre operating costs. Officials were asked to present actionable implementation roadmaps so that the state can accelerate the shift towards cleaner, cost effective public transport.

The Andhra Pradesh government has embarked on an initiative to transform public transport by promoting electric buses as a means to enhance affordability and efficiency. The chief minister emphasised the role of clean fuel initiatives and solar power management in lowering operating costs and improving sustainability across the transport sector. The review focused on measures to expand the use of electric vehicles and align infrastructure investment with broader mobility objectives. The chief minister directed officials to optimise fuel costs and reported that electric bus operations currently run at Rs 72 per km, a figure intended to guide comparative assessments with conventional fleets. He urged rapid expansion of charging infrastructure and called for the standardisation of batteries to reduce lifecycle expenses and enable interoperability. There was a particular push to convert existing bus fleets into air conditioned electric vehicles to improve passenger comfort and encourage modal shift. Officials were instructed to prioritise highway connectivity to ports and to strengthen maintenance regimes for roads traversing areas of black cotton soil, which demand specialised engineering responses. The government assessed that improved corridors would unlock economic activity and catalyse industrial development across the state, supporting logistics and export oriented growth. Major highway projects were reported to be planned with completion targets set within two years to expedite these benefits. The review concluded with a call for coordinated planning between transport, energy and urban development departments to mobilise financing and technical support for the transition. Emphasis was placed on developing clear timelines, performance benchmarks and public charging networks to attract investment and lower per kilometre operating costs. Officials were asked to present actionable implementation roadmaps so that the state can accelerate the shift towards cleaner, cost effective public transport.

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