The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the ‘PM-eBus Sewa’ for augmenting city bus operations, under which 10,000 e-buses will be deployed across cities in the country.Briefing reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet, Union minister Anurag Thakur said the decision will improve public transport in cities and is also in line with India’s objectives concerning climate change.
The union cabinet on approved ‘PM-eBus Sewa’ for augmenting city bus operation under which 10,000 e-buses will be deployed across cities in the country.During a briefing on Union Cabinet decisions, Union Minsiter Anurag Thakur says “PM E-Bus Seva has been given approval. ₹57,613 crores will be spent on this. Around 10,000 new electric buses will be provided across the country”.
pm e bus seva scheme
Union Minister Anurag Thakur further said, “Out of ₹57,613 crores, ₹20,000 crores will be provided by the Central government. The scheme will cover cities with 3 lakhs and above population. Under this scheme, city bus operations with 10,000 e-buses on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model will be done. This scheme will support bus operations for 10 years.”
The scheme will cover cities of 3 lakh and above population and priority will be given to cities not having organised bus services. Ten thousand e-buses will be deployed on public-private partnership (PPP) model in 169 cities. Infrastructure will be upgraded in 181 cities under the Green Urban Mobility Initiatives.
Here are the top points on announcements made during Centre’s cabinet briefing:
1. Out of 169 cities, 100 cities will be chosen on a challenge method, Thakur said on PM e-bus Seva initiative.
2. Informing further about the new scheme, he said, “Out of ₹57,613 crores, ₹20,000 crores will be provided by the Central government. The scheme will cover cities with 3 lakhs and above population. Under this scheme, city bus operations with 10,000 e-buses on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model will be done. This scheme will support bus operations for 10 years.”
3. The cabinet also approved the Vishwakarma Yojana scheme, said Union railways, communications, electronics and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during the brief.
4. Under the PM Vishwakarma scheme, the government will promote traditional skills including pottery, blacksmithing, construction, tailoring, and boat-building which have been transferred through the previous generations.
5. Vishwakarma Yojana is expected to benefit 30 lakh craftsmen families. The ₹13,000 crore scheme will enable craftsmen to get subsidised loans up to ₹2 lakh, said Vaishnaw as reported by PTI.
6. “There are two types of skill program under the scheme and a stipend of ₹500 will be given to those who are taking benefit of the scheme and to buy modern tools, Rs. 15,000 in mode of support will be given. And loans up to Rs. 1,00,000 to the beneficiaries of the Vishwakarma scheme,” said Vaishnaw.
7. Cabinet approved the extension of the Digital India program with an outlay of ₹14,903 crores, informed Vaishnaw. ‘Bhashini’, the national digital public platform for universal language translation will also be introduced under the Digital India program, he added.
8. During the cabinet meet, the Centre also decided to add nine more supercomputers to the already existing 18 systems deployed in the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), news agency PTI quoted Vaishnaw as saying.
9. The Union Cabinet has approved seven multi-tracking projects of Indian Railways with an outlay of Rs. 32,500 crore, said Vaishnaw. “The government, under PM Modi, is extensively focusing on the development of the Railways,” he added.
10. During the cabinet meet, the Centre also approved extension of DigiLocker to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). “DigiLockercurrently is available only for individuals, and it now has more than 40 crore subscribers. Soon, a new extension of DigiLocker will be launched for MSMEs,” Vaishnaw explained.