The city’s bus service is still running entirely on CNG. While neighbouring Delhi has rapidly expanded its electric bus operations and positioned e-buses as the backbone of its public transport transition, Gurgaon’s shift to a greener fleet remains largely limited to electric cabs and autos.
India managing director at International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) Amit Bhatt told TOI, “Delhi’s progress was driven by faster execution and policy support. Delhi was able to move faster largely because it received strong support under central schemes like FAME II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles in India) and the PM e-Drive, along with better planning and quicker implementation. Haryana also qualifies for these schemes, but reforms such as a proper payment security mechanism and a structured implementation framework are crucial. Without these, cities struggle to get projects cleared and executed on the ground.”
Over the past decade, the city saw only limited traction in EV adoption within the shared mobility segment, with 20,332 electric commercial vehicles registered so far. This includes 2,685 electric cabs and 3,392 electric passenger autos. Together, e-cabs and e-autos form nearly 30 per cent of Gurgaon’s registered commercial EV base. This means that last-mile and app-based mobility are beginning to go electric.
Despite plans and repeated attempts, Gurugram Metropolitan City Bus Limited (GMCBL) has not been able to induct a single electric bus into its fleet since 2019. GMCBL’s first attempt to bring electric buses began in Sept 2019, when it floated a request for expression of interest (RFEOI) to deploy 100 electric buses in the city. The plan was later shelved after the Haryana govt decided to procure buses for statewide operations instead.
In 2023, the state opted into the PM e-Sewa scheme, under which Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) stepped in to facilitate deployment. In Feb 2025, CESL finalised a concessionaire to procure, operate and maintain 450 electric buses across Haryana, with Gurgaon expected to receive 100. Another 100 e-buses were confirmed later in Sept. Despite these announcements, the e-buses are yet to move from paper to roads.
According to GMDA, the gross cost contract was finalised by CESL, but the proposal is awaiting govt approval. Only after that can GMCBL sign the agreement and initiate the rollout. The proposal is likely to be placed before the high-powered purchase committee on Monday and is expected to receive the govt’s nod, officials added. The timeline for the induction of e-buses was already missed.
