Mangaluru to launch first private electric bus service on route 27

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 24, 2026: Marking a new milestone in coastal transportation, Ganesh Prasad is set to introduce the first private electric bus in Mangaluru. The bus will operate on Route No. 27.

Electric buses are now being considered in the private transport sector as well. Earlier, under the Central Government’s PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, a total of 750 new electric buses were sanctioned for the state. This move has posed a significant challenge to the private transport system. In this context, discussions were held about introducing electric buses into private transport. Even before government-operated electric buses begin service in Mangaluru, a privately operated electric bus will start running in the city.

To curb vehicular air pollution in the country, the Central Government is promoting the use of electric buses nationwide. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has approved 750 electric buses for the state, of which 100 buses will be allocated to Mangaluru. These buses will operate on various routes across the city. Charging points have been approved by MESCOM and KPTCL at the Kuntikan KSRTC depot and the Bejai bus stand.

If everything proceeds as planned, electric bus operations are expected to begin in Mangaluru within six months. Private bus owners have decided to operate electric buses on a trial basis, and if the experiment proves successful, more electric buses will be purchased.

India’s first organized bus transport system began in Mangaluru in 1914, when the Shankar Vittal Company launched the first private bus service between Mangaluru and Bantwal. Now, Mangaluru is once again preparing to set an example in EV bus operations, with services expected to commence within a month. All necessary preparations are already underway.

The EV bus is 9 meters long and has a seating capacity of 32–41 passengers. It offers a battery range of up to 200 km and can be fully recharged in 2 hours. The bus is air-conditioned and comes with a 5-year battery warranty. The body design of the bus is being undertaken in Pune.