Uttar Pradesh to launch 1,725 electric buses across 18 cities under GCC model
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet approved the rollout of 1,725 air-conditioned electric buses in 18 cities, using a gross cost contract model with private operators.
On Friday, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sanctioned a plan to deploy 1,725 air-conditioned electric buses across 18 major cities, including Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and Agra. The fleet will comprise nine-metre and 12-metre vehicles operating under a gross cost contract (GCC) model for a 12-year period. Private operators are responsible for purchasing the buses, installing charging infrastructure, staffing drivers and technicians, and handling operations and maintenance, while the state will provide subsidies of ₹40 lakh for 12-metre buses and ₹35 lakh for nine-metre units and allocate land free of charge for depots through municipal corporations and the Noida Authority.
User fares will be set by the government, and operators will be compensated according to prescribed performance standards. Urban Development Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma said the scheme will lower the government's financial burden, improve service quality, and give preference to buses manufactured in Uttar Pradesh, thereby supporting local industry and creating jobs.
Why it matters
The initiative could modernize public transport, cut emissions and boost local manufacturing in India's most populous state.
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