E-buses, privatisiation of bus transport services: Govt takes the wheel

The urban development ministry has advised cities to privatise bus transport services as part of a clutch of urban renewal programmes. At the same time, the ministry will push for conversion of city buses across India to become electrically operated. 

“Rolling stock (buses) should not be part of the working plans of the municipal corporations,” said Rajeev Gauba, secretary of the ministry of urban development, in a chat with Business Standard to mark three years of the National Democratic Alliance government. 

The ministry has instead asked the city bosses to build core infrastructure to run the city transport services, which