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The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) will expand its electric bus fleet from 15 to 50 vehicles in preparation for the Brahmotsavams festival in Tirupati, India. The rollout aims to handle increased pilgrim transport demand during the major religious event. Deccan Chronicle reported the expansion plan without specifying delivery timelines or procurement details.

Why it matters: The 233% fleet increase signals accelerated procurement by a major religious institution managing high volume passenger flows, offering insight into EV adoption patterns in India's pilgrimage transport sector. The timing around a major festival suggests operators are prioritising electric capacity for peak demand periods.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages a major pilgrimage site in India, plans to impose a high toll fee on petrol and diesel vehicles while exempting electric vehicles, according to Executive Officer M Ravichandra. The site currently sees an average of 8,000 vehicles per day. TTD will establish charging stations and introduce EV public transport as part of a phased approach to replace fossil fuel vehicles with electric ones.

Why it matters: The policy creates a captive market for EV charging infrastructure at a high traffic pilgrimage destination, offering procurement opportunities for charging station suppliers and EV fleet operators. The toll exemption for EVs provides a clear financial incentive that could accelerate electric vehicle adoption among the 8,000 daily visitors and commercial operators serving the site.