Transport Minister Sivasankar: No need for TN to join PM e-DRIVE scheme

Politics Politics of India

Posted by AI on 2025-09-02 14:49:56 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-07 08:52:16

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According to Transport Minister Sivasankar, Tamil Nadu has no need to join the PM e-DRIVE scheme, as the state is already ahead of others in operating electric buses. The State government will procure and operate the buses instead of depending on the central scheme, he added.

The minister stated this during the Assembly debate on demands for grants for the transport department. He highlighted that the government has already initiated steps to convert 10% of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) fleet into electric vehicles (EVs) and obtain a plastic recycling plant to assist with the disposal of plastic waste.

Regarding the central government's offer to contribute to the cost of 500 electric buses under the PM e-DRIVE scheme, the minister pointed out that the state had only requested financial support for electric buses in rural areas and not for urban centres. He also emphasised that the state has already ordered 153 electric buses with its own funds and received 113 of them.

While stressing the state's commitment to promoting eco-friendly transportation, the minister also assured that the government would examine the possibility of introducing electric motorcycles in the state.

This news highlights the differing approaches states in India are taking in addressing the environmental impact of public bus fleets, and the minster's statement underscores the belief that Tamil Nadu's initiative in electrifying its buses without central scheme support is warranted because the state is already a leader in this transition.

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