CESL to Launch Mega Tender for 10,900 Electric Buses 

State-owned Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) is set to open bids on November 6, 2025, for the procurement of 10,900 electric buses under the National Electric Bus Programme (NEBP). The move marks a major step toward transforming India’s urban transport network into a zero-emission, sustainable mobility ecosystem.

CESL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) and the government’s nodal agency for e-bus aggregation, confirmed that several domestic and international manufacturers and operators participated in pre-bid meetings. The company noted that it has addressed numerous queries from potential bidders to ensure a smooth tendering process.

The mega tender spans multiple metropolitan cities and Union Territories, including Hyderabad, Surat, Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Bengaluru. It will cover AC and non-AC buses across categories such as Standard Floor, Low Floor, and BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) models.

Under the allocation plan, Bengaluru will receive the largest share with 4,500 buses, followed by Delhi with 2,800, Hyderabad with around 2,000, and Surat and Ahmedabad together adding 1,600 buses.

Once awarded, the successful bidders will sign agreements with the respective City Transport Undertakings (CTUs) to ensure seamless deployment, operation, and maintenance of the electric buses. Operators will be responsible for building charging depots, employing local drivers and technicians, and maintaining stringent service-level agreements (SLAs) covering uptime, energy efficiency, and passenger comfort.

A key focus of this tender is on gender diversity, with plans to include women drivers and maintenance engineers, promoting local employment and inclusivity within the clean mobility sector.

According to CESL, the deployment of these e-buses will have a transformative impact on India’s urban air quality. Each electric bus is expected to replace a conventional diesel bus, collectively reducing over 4 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually across the fleet’s lifetime. The initiative will also help lower noise pollution and improve commuter experience in major Indian cities.

The procurement will follow CESL’s aggregation-based model under a Gross Cost Contract (GCC) framework, where private operators will own, operate, and maintain the buses. In return, city authorities will pay a fixed per-kilometre fee, ensuring cost efficiency and scalability while minimizing the financial burden on urban transport agencies.

CESL has previously executed successful e-bus procurements under the FAME-II scheme and earlier phases of the National E-Bus Programme, facilitating thousands of electric buses for various state transport undertakings. With this upcoming tender, the agency aims to further accelerate India’s transition to electric public transportation and reinforce its commitment to green mobility goals.