Mumbai-based Cityflo announces JV to operate in the state govt-run bus transit ecosystem

Komorebi Tech Solutions, the parent company of Mumbai-based urban mobility platform Cityflo, has announced a joint venture with Globus Trans Solutions LLP to operate in the state government-run bus transit ecosystem.

Urban Glide is a joint venture with Globus Trans Solutions LLP, founded by public transport veteran Victor Nagaonkar—who led operations at BEST for over four decades—along with Sunil Solanki, a seasoned public transit veteran with extensive supply and operational experience across public transit companies like PMPML.

Operations to begin with 500 buses

Urban Glide will begin operations with 500 electric buses in its first year, the company said. India is poised to lead the world's largest electric bus transition. Over 200,000 state-owned buses are being inducted into public-private operations under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model—a Rs 1,00,000 crore annual opportunity that is reshaping the country's urban transit landscape.

"We believe this will be one of urban India's most consequential infrastructure transitions. The opportunity is not just operational but generational. India is going to move over 200 million people a day on zero-emission, clean, well-run buses. Urban Glide is our commitment to building at the scale and standard that this moment demands," said Jerin Venad, CEO of Cityflo.

Challenges in India's public bus system

India’s public bus ecosystem—run largely by State Transport Undertakings (STUs)—has struggled with funding gaps, ageing fleets, and subpar commuter experiences for decades. The company said that GCC model redefines this structure by entrusting service delivery to experienced, specialized private fleet operators while the state retains control over routes and fare policy.

The model has already seen long-standing success in global transit hubs such as Singapore and the UK, where players like ComfortDelGro and Stagecoach have helped deliver high-reliability, high-frequency services under similar PPP frameworks, it said.

In India, with thousands of electric buses currently under procurement, Urban Glide is designed specially to meet this at scale —with asset lifecycle control, professionalised operations and driver management, data-led route and cost optimizations and embedded safety and compliance protocols.

“We have seen this move in other sectors: regulation opens, capital flows in, and the incumbents are those who can build at scale. Public transport is now getting its Jio moment,” added Venad.

Urban Glide will take charge of its first 150 buses across MMR, with plans to expand operations across the country as more GCC contracts are awarded.