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The Maharashtra government plans to establish EV charging stations at Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation depots and Regional Transport Offices statewide, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced at a Tata Motors electric truck launch in Mumbai. A proposal to add chargers at flyovers under a public private partnership model has been submitted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for approval. MSRTC aims to convert its entire bus fleet to electric by 2036.

Why it matters: The state depot and RTO rollout creates a predictable pipeline of public sector charging tenders, while the flyover PPP model opens commercial opportunities for operators willing to co invest in high visibility urban sites. The 2036 fleet electrification target signals sustained demand for depot charging infrastructure across Maharashtra's bus network.

MSRTC and the Maharashtra government will establish around 200 EV charging stations across the state to support conversion of the entire ST bus fleet to electric by 2035. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik confirmed the charging hubs will be developed through public private partnerships on MSRTC land, with private operators permitted to serve non ST electric vehicles alongside the bus fleet.

Why it matters: The PPP model opens procurement opportunities for charging infrastructure providers across Maharashtra, while the dual use mandate for public and fleet charging creates a larger addressable market for operators bidding on MSRTC sites.

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has asked the state government for Rs 3,191.42 crore in viability gap funding to support its electric bus operations. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik stated that electric buses have generated Rs 125.5 crore in losses through February 2025, with projected losses reaching Rs 718 crore in the next financial year as the fleet expands to 1,230 nine metre and 1,678 twelve metre e-buses from EV Trans Private Limited. The corporation pays Rs 24 extra per kilometre for electric buses compared to diesel, with e-buses costing approximately Rs 2 crore each versus Rs 40 lakh for diesel equivalents.

Why it matters: The funding request highlights the financial strain of large scale electric bus procurement under Gross Cost Contracts, signalling potential challenges for other state transport corporations planning EV transitions. The viability gap underscores the need for structured subsidy mechanisms to bridge operational cost differences between diesel and electric fleets during India's public transport electrification push.