These facilities will be developed for the electric bus fleet of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), also known as the “Red Bus” service.
Under this initiative, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), and the Public Works Department (PWD) have been directed to survey available spaces under flyovers within their jurisdiction and submit detailed reports. These areas are being evaluated for their potential to be converted into EV charging hubs.
Under the state’s Electric Vehicle Policy, Maharashtra aims to significantly electrify its transport system by 2047. At the same time, MSRTC is working towards transitioning its entire bus fleet to electric vehicles by 2035.
However, the lack of available land in urban areas for charging infrastructure has become a major challenge. As a result, unused space under flyovers has emerged as a practical and cost-effective solution.
The proposal was discussed in a high-level meeting held under the Home Department, where models including government funding, self-financing, and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) were considered for developing modern charging stations.
Officials said that several flyovers under the jurisdiction of MMRDA and MSRDC have large unused spaces that can be effectively utilised for charging infrastructure. If these spaces are allocated to MSRTC, it could help build a strong charging network for buses and also generate additional revenue.
MSRTC is planning to set up at least 200 charging stations across the state, all to be developed under the PPP model. Officials believe that a robust charging network will significantly improve the efficiency of electric bus operations and give a major boost to public transport in Maharashtra.
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