India: Telangana to retrofit 240 diesel buses under large-scale electrification plan
Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has initiated a large-scale programme to retrofit 240 diesel buses with electric powertrains, positioning itself as the first state road transport corporation in India to undertake such conversions at this scale. The initiative, highlighted in a LinkedIn post by Telangana Rising, marks the transition from pilot testing to structured […]
Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has initiated a large-scale programme to retrofit 240 diesel buses with electric powertrains, positioning itself as the first state road transport corporation in India to undertake such conversions at this scale.
The initiative, highlighted in a LinkedIn post by Telangana Rising, marks the transition from pilot testing to structured deployment within Hyderabad’s public transport fleet. The retrofit programme complements the ongoing induction of newly built electric buses and forms part of the state’s broader electrification strategy within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits.
As Times of India reported in late 2025, TSRTC, the state-run public bus operator in Telangana state, already operates 810 electric buses statewide, including 300 in Hyderabad. With 175 more units at that time expected by January 2026, the city’s electric fleet was expected to reach 540, positioning it among India’s largest EV bus operations. The transport company plans to have as many as 1,050 electric buses operational within 2025.
Telangana major bus conversion project
According to trade agency electrive, TGSRTC floated a tender in September for the conversion of 240 diesel buses. Hyderabad-based Sai Green Mobility Pvt. Ltd. was awarded 200 units, while Kalyani Powertrain Ltd., headquartered in Pune, secured the remaining 40 units.
The large-scale rollout follows a pilot project conducted in 2023, when an internal combustion engine bus from the Musheerabad depot in Hyderabad was retrofitted with an electric powertrain in cooperation with a private partner. As reported by electrive, the converted vehicle is currently operating under the Uppal depot limits in Hyderabad.
TGSRTC has not disclosed technical specifications for the retrofitted buses.
To support fleet electrification, the state-owned company is investing ₹3.92 billion (approximately €36.5 million) in depot and charging infrastructure, according to electrive. The plan includes charging facilities in 19 additional depots, the construction of ten new bus depots, and the development of ten new charging stations in the state capital.
