BEST To Have 1800 Electric Buses By 2023; Says Aaditya Thackeray

The Maharashtra state government has been taking several steps to accelerate clean mobility and curb emissions, and the EV Policy 2021 is a big push towards it. The government, after much delay, has finally rolled out the revised EV policy in the state. While addressing a recently organised Maharashtra EV Policy 2021 highlights and discussion, Aaditya Thackeray, the minister of Tourism and Environment for the Government of Maharashtra, said that Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) will have a total of 1800 electric buses by mid-2023.

Also Read: Tata Motors Delivers 35 Starbus Electric Buses To BEST

BEST will procure about 1800 e-buses by mid-2023, which is about 45 per cent of the total buses ply on the streets of Mumbai. The e-buses will be procured in a phased manner, and these will be employed as public transport across the city.

Last month, Tata Motors delivered 35 Starbus electric buses to BEST

As a part of its EV Policy 2021, the state government has set a target of 25 per cent electrification of public transport in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad and Amravati. During the discussion, Aaditya Thackeray also mentioned that tenders will be floated soon.

Last month, Tata Motors delivered 35 Starbus electric buses, as a part of the larger order of 340 electric buses to Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST). The buses are procured by BEST under the government of India's FAME II initiative. The company will deliver the rest of the order in a phased manner, as per the schedule. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) aims to convert 15 per cent of its current bus fleet to electric by 2025.