Switch Mobility Ltd, the electric mobility arm of the Hinduja Group, and intercity mobility operator Purple Bus have launched an electric bus service on the Nagpur–Chandrapur route, marking the first such service in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region.
The launch was marked by the flag-off of the first batch of six electric buses from an order for 50 EiV12m intercity electric buses for deployment in Vidarbha. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari was present at the event, which coincided with Dussehra.
The service is expected to improve connectivity between Nagpur and Chandrapur, providing passengers with a cleaner alternative to conventional diesel-powered intercity travel.
The deployment marks the third intercity electric bus rollout by Switch Mobility and Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions in 2026. The partners introduced electric coaches on the Mumbai–Pune route in April and the Dombivli–Pune route in October.
The expansion into Vidarbha extends their partnership beyond established high-traffic corridors and signals growing interest in electric buses for intercity passenger transport.
Focus on sustainable intercity mobility
Switch Mobility Chief Executive Officer Ganesh Mani said the Nagpur–Chandrapur corridor had close economic and cultural links, making improved public transport an important part of the region’s development.
He said the deployment would extend the company’s partnership with Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions and support the movement of passengers through sustainable public transport.
The company sees the launch as part of its broader strategy to expand zero-emission mobility solutions across Indian cities and towns.
Electric coaches target lower operating costs
Purple Bus Director Saurabh Patwadhan said the operator aimed to make electric buses a mainstream option for intercity travel rather than an exception.
He said Purple Bus’s electric intercity fleet had already covered more than one million kilometres, adding that operating data indicated electric coaches offered lower total cost of ownership and lower costs per passenger-kilometre than diesel buses.
The economics of electric intercity operations will be an important factor in determining how quickly operators expand their fleets. While electric buses require significant upfront investment, lower energy and maintenance costs can improve operating economics, depending on utilisation, electricity tariffs, financing costs and charging infrastructure.
Purple Bus said its partnership with Switch Mobility had helped demonstrate the commercial viability of electric coaches and provided confidence to expand deployments across Maharashtra.
Vidarbha deployment expands electric bus network
The Nagpur–Chandrapur service adds a new electric intercity connection within Vidarbha, a region where road transport plays an important role in connecting commercial centres and supporting economic activity.
The initial deployment of six buses is part of the larger 50-bus order for the region. The expansion is expected to support cleaner passenger mobility while strengthening the partners’ presence in Maharashtra’s intercity transport market.
For Switch Mobility, the order provides an opportunity to expand the deployment of its electric commercial vehicle technology beyond urban bus services. For Purple Bus, the new route extends its electric mobility strategy into another regional corridor.
The success of the deployment could help demonstrate whether electric coaches can be scaled economically across a wider range of intercity routes, including those beyond India’s busiest travel corridors.