Gurgaon: Even as the first batch of electric buses is yet to hit the city roads, the Gurugram Metropolitan City Bus Limited (GMCBL) has initiated the process to expand its planned fleet. GMCBL has sought 500 more electric buses from the central government to address the city's widening public transport deficit. Officials confirmed that GMCBL, through the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), has submitted a requirement proposal for additional electric buses to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) under the Urban Challenge Fund.
This development comes amid growing concerns over inadequate public transport infrastructure in the city. Commuters continue to rely heavily on private vehicles and app-based cabs due to unreliable bus services, worsening congestion, and rising pollution levels. According to officials, the proposal has been prepared keeping in view the city's growing population, increasing vehicular congestion, and the need to strengthen urban mobility and last-mile connectivity.
GMCBL CEO Vishwajeet Choudhary stated, “The proposal has been submitted to improve urban mobility and ensure accessible, end-to-end public transport connectivity across the city. With the expansion of urban areas, efforts are being made to improve the city bus fleet and provide reliable public transport to commuters.”
As per MoHUA guidelines, cities with a population above 20 lakh should have at least 50 buses per lakh population to ensure adequate public transport coverage. With Gurgaon's population estimated at nearly 25 lakh, the city ideally requires around 1,250 buses. However, it currently manages barely over 12% of the required fleet strength. At present, GMCBL operates around 200 buses, of which 50 are currently deployed in Faridabad following state government directions. With fewer than 150 buses effectively available for Gurgaon, public transport coverage remains sparse in several parts of the city. Many existing buses are ageing and prone to frequent breakdowns, affecting service reliability and commuter confidence.
GMCBL officials indicated that the first batch of electric buses is likely to be added to the fleet by next month. The city last saw an addition of eight CNG buses equipped with air conditioning in 2021. In February, the state government approved the acquisition of electric buses for Gurgaon. In September last year, Convergence Energy Services Ltd finalised a concessionaire for the procurement, operation, and maintenance of 200 electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa Phase-I initiative. Of these, 100 buses were earmarked for Gurgaon and 100 for Faridabad.
However, officials noted that Faridabad is yet to develop the required charging and depot infrastructure. As a result, buses allocated to Faridabad are now expected to operate in Gurgaon, increasing the number of electric buses likely to be introduced in the city. GMCBL officials said preparations to integrate the new electric fleet are already underway. A charging substation has been installed at the Sector 10 depot, while the selected concessionaire is currently developing charging bays and related infrastructure.
Simultaneously, work on another bus depot in Sector 48 is nearing completion. According to a Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) official, nearly 96% of the construction work is completed, and the facility is expected to be commissioned next month. “The infrastructure required for operating electric buses is being put in place. Once operational, the new fleet will improve the reach of public transport services in Gurgaon,” the official added.
