Central Government Sanctions 670 Electric Buses, 241 Charging Stations Under the FAME Scheme

• Under Phase-II of the FAME India Scheme, the central government has sanctioned 670 electric buses for various states.
• Among 670 e-buses that are sanctioned, Maharashtra has got 240, Gujarat has got 250, Goa has got 100 and Chandigarh has got 80.
• This phase aims to support, through subsidies, approximately 7,000 e-buses, 5 lakh e-3 wheelers, 55,000 e-4 wheeler passenger cars, and 10 lakh e-2 wheelers.
• In the first phase of the scheme up to March 31, 2019, about 2,80,987 hybrid and electric vehicles were supported

Under Phase-II of the FAME India Scheme, the central government has sanctioned 670 electric buses for Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, and Chandigarh and 241 charging stations in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, and Port Blair.

In a series of tweets, the Union Heavy Industries minister Prakash Javadekar informed that 25 charging stations have been sanctioned in Kollam, 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, and 28 in Malappuram (all in Kerala). Besides, 10 charging stations have been sanctioned in Port Blair and 25 in Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu.

"The decision reflects the Centre's commitment to reduce dependence on fossil fuel and address the issues of vehicular emissions, and is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for eco-friendly public transportation," Prakash Javadekar said.

"This is a good start, these e-buses, e-rickshaws, and e-scooters, as well as e-cars for city use, are the best way forward for environment-friendly transport," Javadekar added.

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The Department of Heavy Industries under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises is administering the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme since April 2015 to promote the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles (xEVs) in India

Among 670 e-buses that are sanctioned, Maharashtra has got 240, Gujarat has got 250, Goa has got 100 and Chandigarh has got 80. Kerala and other states have also got e-charging stations. Already 450 buses are plying in various cities.

Javadekar said the setting up of charging stations is a key infrastructure necessity to promote Electric Vehicles.

At present, Phase-II of the FAME India Scheme is being implemented for a period of 3 years with effect from April 1, 2019, with total budgetary support of Rs 10,000 crore.

This phase focuses on supporting electrification of public & shared transportation and aims to support, through subsidies, approximately 7,000 e-buses, 5 lakh e-3 wheelers, 55,000 e-4 wheeler passenger cars, and 10 lakh e-2 wheelers.

In the first phase of the scheme up to March 31, 2019, about 2,80,987 hybrid and electric vehicles were supported by way of demand incentive, amounting to about Rs 359 crore.

Further, the department has sanctioned 425 electric and hybrid buses to various cities in the country at a total cost of about Rs 280 crore. It had also sanctioned 520 charging stations for about Rs 43 crore in cities like Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and NCR of Delhi under Phase-I of the FAME-India Scheme.

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