A senior BMTC official says the initiative was part of a wider effort to support the city’s transition to electric mobility. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO
Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will set up electric vehicle (EV) battery swapping stations at its bus stations across Bengaluru to promote clean mobility and better use of non-fare transport infrastructure.
According to officials, BMTC will provide open spaces at select bus terminals for license fee; the corporation recently floated a tender for the same. Officials said the contract will be awarded to the bidder who quotes the highest monthly license fee. “The selected licensee will be responsible for the installation, operation and maintenance of the battery exchange stations, while the role of BMTC will be limited to providing space and issuing necessary no-objection certificates,” the official said.
BMTC has identified several locations across the city, including Shantinagar, Domlur TTMC, Malleswaram, Yelahanka New Town, Nagarbhavi and Vidyaranyapura, with spaces ranging from 120 to 250 sq.ft.
A senior BMTC official said the initiative is part of a wider effort to support the city’s transition to electric mobility. “Bus terminals are long-range locations and are ideal for last-mile EV infrastructure. Battery replacement can significantly reduce the downtime of electric two-wheelers and small commercial vehicles, which are increasingly being used in the city,” the official added.
According to the tender documents, the license will be valid for an initial period of three years with the possibility of extension for another three years by mutual agreement. The license fee will be subject to an annual increase of 10%, with the deposit fixed at 11 times the monthly license fee. BMTC has also set a one-month rent-free period for setting up infrastructure.
According to the tender documents, the licensee will have to obtain all legal permits, ensure electricity supply under BESCOM’s EV tariff and adhere to safety standards prescribed by national standards. BMTC has mandated that chargers installed on its premises must be IP54 compliant, while batteries must conform to AIS-156 or UNR136 safety standards.)
“The model enables BMTC to generate non-traffic revenue while promoting environmentally sustainable transport options. Importantly, the operational and safety responsibility rests entirely with the licensee, ensuring that passenger movement at bus stations is not affected,” the official said.
Published – 11 Feb 2026 21:29 IST