Despite the sanctioning of 228 electric buses for the Nagpur Division between 2024 and 2026, only 60 e-buses have, so far, been inducted into service by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), raising serious questions over the pace of the corporation’s electric transition. Official data indicates that the division has received 30 nine-metre e-buses and 30 twelve-metre e-Shivai buses. These vehicles are presently operating from Ganeshpeth, Imambada and Wardhaman Nagar depots on inter-district and regional routes connecting Amravati, Chandrapur, Akola, Yavatmal, Bhandara and Ramtek. However, with 2025 nearing its end, barely over a quarter of the sanctioned fleet is operational.

 

The remaining 168 buses are yet to be delivered, and no detailed public timeline has been issued regarding their phased induction. Sources attribute the delay to a combination of tendering bottlenecks, charging infrastructure readiness and supply constraints at the manufacturing level. MSRTC officials, meanwhile, maintain that the rollout is being executed cautiously to ensure depot preparedness and uninterrupted services. The concern, therefore, is not about intent, but about urgency.

 

Several states have demonstrated that rapid electric fleet expansion is achievable with decisive planning and transparent monitoring. As a key regional hub of Vidarbha, Nagpur should be setting benchmarks, not waiting for them. With electric mobility central to Maharashtra’s green transport agenda, the coming months will determine whether Nagpur’s e-Bus programme accelerates or continues to fall behind expectations.