October 27, 2025

Hold on tight, Indian cities are gearing up for a green revolution! The state-owned Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) is set to launch a massive tender on November 6, 2025, to buy a whopping 10,900 electric buses. This exciting plan targets major cities like Hyderabad, Surat, Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Bengaluru to push public transport into the electric age under the National Electric Bus Programme (NEBP). CESL, a company under Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL), is the government’s chosen agency for electric bus procurement. According to the company, many top domestic and foreign manufacturers are already buzzing around pre-bid meetings. CESL responded to lots of questions raised by potential buyers, making sure everything is clear for this huge deal. Here’s how the big numbers stack up: Hyderabad is set to get about 2,000 buses divided into two lots. Surat and Ahmedabad will share 1,600 buses, Delhi will get 2,800, and Bengaluru will lead with a massive 4,500 buses. These buses come in different styles — AC and Non-AC, Standard Floor, Low Floor, and BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) models. Once the bidding ends, the winners won’t just hand over buses and disappear. They will sign deals with city transport bodies to manage the buses, including running and maintenance. They must build charging stations, hire local drivers and technicians, and follow strict rules to keep the buses running smoothly. Even better, the project pushes for women drivers and engineers, boosting gender diversity and creating local jobs in the clean transport sector. These buses aren’t just fancy rides; they will slash pollution, cut noise, and clean the air in crowded urban spots. Experts expect each electric bus to replace a diesel one, cutting more than 4 million tonnes of CO₂ every year. That’s a giant leap for cleaner, quieter cities! CESL’s special plan works through something called a Gross Cost Contract (GCC), which means private companies own and run the buses while cities pay them a fixed rate per kilometer. This smart setup keeps costs down for city governments while speeding up the switch to electric buses. CESL isn’t new to this game. It has already helped buy thousands of electric buses for state transport departments through schemes like FAME-II and the National E-Bus Programme. Now, with this mega tender, India’s electric bus future looks charged and ready to roll!

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Tags: Electric buses, Cesl, National electric bus programme, Sustainable transport, India cities, Clean mobility,