Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh is set to overhaul its passenger bus transport system with a new state-level framework based on public-private participation, technology and data-driven route planning. The plans were discussed at the Passenger Transport Vision Summit–2026, where officials and industry representatives outlined measures to restart organised state bus services after nearly two decades.
The state government has approved a plan to restart bus transport services under MPYPCL, with infrastructure, monitoring systems and regional structures being developed for operations. The initiative is expected to improve connectivity while giving passengers safer and more convenient travel options.
Passenger Transport Vision Summit to Guide MP’s Transport Department
Transport Minister Uday Pratap Singh described the expansion of accessible passenger transport services in Madhya Pradesh as a historic opportunity for the state.
He said the deliberations emerging from the Passenger Transport Vision Summit–2026 would guide the Transport Department in the future, comparing their importance to the Ramayana and the Gita. According to Singh, the discussions at the summit will also help the state government fulfil its commitments in the passenger transport sector.
Singh said the benefits of e-buses would also reach rural areas, ensuring that the shift towards cleaner public transport is not limited to cities.
The government had given approval to launch the Accessible Passenger Transport Bus Service on April 1 last year. Under the plan, the necessary infrastructure for bus operations will be developed at the state level.
The minister said the proposed transport system would benefit both passengers and bus operators. The government aims to bring bus operations on the ground during the ‘Seva Sankalp Month’.
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State Bus Services to Return After 20 Years
Transport Department Secretary Manish Singh, a 2009-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, said the services of the State Road Transport Corporation were suspended in 2005. For almost 20 years, private operators have largely handled bus operations across the state.
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has approved a framework to restart organised state bus transport services. Under the new arrangement, buses will operate under MPYPCL.
A state-level passenger transport company has been formed, along with seven regional subsidiary companies. At the district level, transport advisory committees headed by collectors have also been constituted.
Public representatives will participate in the monitoring process alongside district administrations, creating a wider oversight mechanism for the new system.
The government has also started recruitment for the Madhya Pradesh Passenger Transport Company through MP Online and TCS, with 1,190 specialist positions approved.
Young people from across the country are showing enthusiasm for the initiative, according to the Transport Department.
1,036 Bus Routes Identified Through Surveys
The new passenger transport network is being planned using route-level data rather than a conventional one-size-fits-all approach. Route surveys have been completed for around 55 districts.
The surveys identified:
- 150 city bus routes
- 450 intercity bus routes
- 436 interstate bus routes
This takes the total number of identified routes to 1,036.
The planned network is expected to strengthen connectivity between cities, towns and rural areas. The government also wants to use technology to improve passenger safety and operational monitoring.
Buses will feature CCTV cameras and driver monitoring systems. Passenger-focused features such as panic buttons, GPS and live-location tracking will also be incorporated.
Electric and CNG bus models have been given priority as part of the state’s push towards cleaner public transport.
Pithampur to Get Country’s Largest Electric Bus Plant
The transport expansion is also being linked with Madhya Pradesh’s electric vehicle manufacturing ambitions.
EKA Mobility Pune Chairman Sudhir Mehta said the company has been operating in Madhya Pradesh for around 30 years and already has four plants in the state.
The company’s fifth electric bus manufacturing plant is planned in Pithampur. According to Mehta, the facility will be the largest electric bus plant in the country.
The proposed facility will have an annual production capacity of 5,000 buses. With state government support, the plant is expected to be established within a record 14 months.
Mehta also highlighted Madhya Pradesh’s position as a solar-surplus state, saying this could provide an advantage for electric vehicle users. EKA Mobility manufactures electric vehicles across multiple segments.
The proposed facility could further support the state’s electric mobility ecosystem and strengthen its manufacturing base.
Indore and Malwa Region to Benefit
Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said passenger transport had been one of the major challenges facing the state and credited Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav’s approach with addressing the issue.
He said Indore and the wider Malwa region would benefit from the Accessible Transport Bus Scheme.
According to Bhargava, a clean and safe bus network developed through public participation will help connect villages with urban centres. He said the initiative could also prevent more than 70,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
The return of organised state transport services, he added, could become a milestone for Madhya Pradesh.
Industry and Technology to Play a Major Role
The Passenger Transport Vision Summit brought together startups, AI experts, bus manufacturers and technology companies to discuss the future of public transport.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, the Cabinet has identified eight priorities for detailed discussion at the summit.
The Transport Department is also seeking participation from industry players, bus manufacturers and technology companies as it develops the new transport framework.
The emphasis on AI, data-driven route planning, GPS-based tracking, CCTV and driver monitoring systems indicates an attempt to build a technology-enabled transport network rather than simply increase the number of buses.
The department expects the summit’s discussions on these issues to provide a new direction to bus transport systems across the country.
Industry Signals Support for Developed Madhya Pradesh
Yash Technologies representative Dharmendra Jain said the company had provided employment to more than 20,000 people over the past 28 years.
He expressed the company’s willingness to contribute to the journey of a developed Madhya Pradesh.
The government’s strategy therefore combines public transport expansion with industrial investment and electric mobility. The proposed Pithampur facility, along with the planned deployment of electric buses, could support Madhya Pradesh’s broader clean mobility ambitions.
The Passenger Transport Vision Summit–2026 has brought together government departments, district administrations, public representatives, private operators, startups, AI experts, technology companies and vehicle manufacturers around a common transport roadmap.
After a gap of nearly 20 years since the suspension of State Road Transport Corporation services, Madhya Pradesh is now attempting to build a new passenger transport model based on data, technology, PPP participation and cleaner vehicles.
If implemented effectively, the planned network could improve connectivity for urban and rural passengers while making bus travel safer and more convenient. The focus on e-buses, infrastructure and technology also links the revival of public transport with the state’s wider development and clean mobility goals.
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