Vadodara's e-buses idle, awaiting official launch

Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is prepared to launch its fleet of 30 electric buses, complete with a fully equipped charging and maintenance facility in Gotri. However, public services have not commenced, as the civic body awaits a formal inauguration for the operations. The first batch of seven e-buses arrived in April, but their deployment was stalled due to the incomplete state of the Gotri facility.

With the charging and maintenance infrastructure now operational, VMC has mapped out 28 routes for the new electric buses. The city's electric bus fleet is slated to increase to 40 by the end of May 2026. These buses are being procured under the central government's PMeBus Sewa scheme, with a total of 250 e-buses planned for Vadodara by the close of 2026.

The Gotri facility, which includes passenger amenities, is the first of its kind, with two more planned for Sayajigunj and Nizampura. These additional centers aim to decentralize operations and ensure widespread charging accessibility. Officials cite the need for a formal inauguration, often coordinated centrally for such schemes, as the reason for the month-long delay in bus operations.