Six electric double-decker buses in Hyderabad cost Rs 60 lakh a year, reveals RTI
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has operated six electric double-decker buses since February 2023, incurring an annual operational cost of over Rs 60 lakh as disclosed under the RTI Act.
Hyderabad-based RTI activist and Yourti.in project manager Kareem Ansari filed the application to promote transparency and accountability. In response, HMDA disclosed information about its electric double-decker bus fleet, which has provided free public rides since early 2023.
The RTI reply from October 17, 2025, states that HMDA owns six electric double-decker buses, each with 66 seats, manufactured by Switch Mobility Automotive Ltd. SR Mobility Solutions operates and manages the buses under an HMDA contract. According to the RTI, the monthly operating cost for all six buses is about Rs 5.03 lakh, totaling Rs 60.43 lakh per year. This amount includes staff salaries and operational expenses. When 18% GST is added, the annual operational cost rises to approximately Rs 71.30 lakh. The RTI does not provide a further breakdown of individual expense components within these totals.
Free Service on Three Routes
Further RTI reveals that the buses serve three routes in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Area, all free to board. The main route circles Hussain Sagar Lake via Secretariat, Tank Bund, and PVNR Marg, running 20 daily trips from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The second connects Secretariat and Salarjung Museum via Tank Bund, Paradise, and Afzal Gunj, with four daily trips from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The third links Secretariat to Waverock IT Park, stopping at tech hubs like Cyber Towers, Mindspace, and Biodiversity Park from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
The project was formally approved by the Government of Telangana’s Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department on October 27, 2020. The approval authorized HMDA to float a tender for the “Supply of Fully Built Double Decker AC Electric Buses (6 Nos with 6 Chargers) and Maintenance Support for 5 years.”
