Bhubaneswar, Aug 29: The Odisha government has announced that the state now ranks fifth nationally in electric bus adoption, with 450 e-buses currently operating across key cities, officials said on Friday.

The state has set an ambitious goal to expand its fleet to over 1,000 electric buses in the coming years, reinforcing its commitment to clean mobility and climate-conscious infrastructure.

According to official data, India has 14,329 e-buses in operation. Delhi leads with 3,564 vehicles, followed by Maharashtra (3,296), Karnataka (2,236), and Uttar Pradesh (850). Odisha’s fifth-place ranking places it ahead of several larger states, including West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra emphasized that Odisha’s green mobility vision is rooted in both environmental responsibility and commuter convenience. “We are not just adding buses—we are building a cleaner, smarter future for our cities,” he said.

The state’s Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) has been instrumental in deploying e-buses across Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Puri, with expansion plans underway for Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Berhampur, and Angul.

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To support this growth, the government is investing in charging infrastructure at depots and terminals, while introducing smart ticketing systems such as QR-based payments, National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC), and app-enabled booking. These upgrades aim to make public transport more accessible, efficient, and eco-friendly.

The Centre’s schemes like PM-eBus Sewa and PM E-DRIVE are also providing financial assistance to accelerate the rollout of electric buses nationwide. Odisha’s proactive approach has positioned it as a model for other states seeking to balance urban growth with environmental stewardship.

As the state gears up to cross the 1,000-bus mark, Odisha’s green mobility journey is not just a technological upgrade—it’s a transformative shift toward sustainable living and inclusive urban development.

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