Chartered Speed, EKA Secure LOCQ for 1,750 E-Buses

Chartered Speed and EKA Mobility secure LOCQ for 1,750 electric buses in Bengaluru

Bengaluru is set to witness one of its largest electric public transport expansions after Chartered Speed Limited, in partnership with EKA Mobility, secured a Letter of Confirmation of Quantity (LOCQ) for 1,750 electric buses under the Government of India’s PM E-Drive Scheme.

The allocation represents a major milestone for the city’s clean mobility journey and stands among the largest single electric bus deployments approved for Bengaluru. The sanctioned fleet forms nearly 39 per cent of the city’s planned induction of 4,500 electric buses under the PM E-Drive initiative, underscoring the scale of the rollout.

The project is expected to significantly support the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s (BMTC) transition toward energy-efficient and low-emission public transport. It also aligns closely with Karnataka’s electric vehicle policy and India’s broader national decarbonisation and sustainable mobility objectives.

Over the past few years, Bengaluru has steadily positioned itself as a leading adopter of electric public transport in India. The addition of 1,750 electric buses is anticipated to strengthen service capacity across high-density urban corridors, improve fleet reliability and reduce tailpipe emissions, contributing to better air quality in the city.

Under the partnership, Chartered Speed Limited will oversee operations, fleet management and service delivery, leveraging its experience in large-scale passenger transport. EKA Mobility will be responsible for supplying the electric buses and integrating advanced vehicle technology solutions into the fleet. The collaboration brings together operational expertise and electric commercial vehicle innovation to support long-term public transport electrification.

Operational safety and reliability form a core part of the deployment strategy. Chartered Speed follows structured safety protocols for electric vehicle operations, including preventive maintenance schedules, continuous battery health monitoring and specialised training programmes for drivers and technical staff. These measures are aimed at ensuring consistent service quality, high fleet uptime and commuter-focused operations.

Commenting on the development, Sanyam Gandhi, Whole-Time Director of Chartered Speed Limited, said Bengaluru remains a key mobility hub where electric buses can deliver both environmental and operational advantages. He added that the PM E-Drive allocation reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to sustainable mass mobility, with a target to transition around 25 per cent of its fleet to electric by FY2027, supported by infrastructure investments and operational preparedness.

Rohit Srivastava, Business Head and Chief Growth Officer at EKA Mobility, described the PM E-Drive initiative as a critical enabler of India’s electric mobility roadmap. He noted that Bengaluru’s large-scale adoption of electric buses sets a benchmark for other cities and said the partnership aims to deliver cleaner, quieter and more efficient urban transport solutions.

In August 2025, Chartered Speed and EKA Mobility had earlier partnered to deploy 1,135 electric buses across Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh, further strengthening their role in India’s growing electric public transport ecosystem.