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Written By: Bhupinder Singh Hooda
Leader of Opposition & Former CM Haryana
Haryana has long cemented its status as northern India’s industrial powerhouse—a state whose growth trajectory has been closely linked to mobility, manufacturing, and the automotive sector’s ascent, from Gurugram’s global car manufacturers to Faridabad’s component suppliers and Manesar’s industrial belt.
Today, as the nation undergoes one of its most crucial transformations—the shift to electric mobility—Haryana must not remain on the sidelines. The PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) and the nationwide e-Bus Sewa initiative represent monumental public investments in clean mobility and industrial advancement. States across India are seizing this moment, leveraging these schemes to attract investments, modernise public transport, and pave the way for the next generation of automotive production. Yet, Haryana—despite its historical centrality to mobility-driven progress—has inexplicably chosen to abstain.
What PM E-DRIVE and e-Bus Sewa Offer
This hesitation is not merely bureaucratic; it reveals a troubling reluctance to embrace an inevitable future. The PM E-DRIVE scheme, with an outlay of ₹10,900 crore, is designed to propel India’s transition to electric vehicles by providing substantial incentives for manufacturing, bolstering EV infrastructure, and facilitating deployment in nine major urban centres. The e-Bus Sewa scheme, spearheaded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, extends the green transition to 169 tier-2 and tier-3 cities, enabling the procurement of thousands of electric buses through a Public-Private Partnership model.
How Other States Are Racing Ahead
States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and even Bihar are making decisive moves, securing allocations, attracting new investments, and generating thousands of green technology jobs. Maharashtra has already been approved for 3,825 electric buses, while Bihar has procured 4,588. Tamil Nadu is integrating EV ecosystems within its industrial corridors, and Gujarat is synchronising the E-DRIVE with local e-bus initiatives to amplify its manufacturing and export capabilities.
A Missed Opportunity for Automobile Heartland
In stark contrast, Haryana—a state with one of the most robust auto-manufacturing ecosystems in India—is relegating itself to the periphery of an initiative that could define the coming decade of its economic growth. This decision is baffling, as no other state is better positioned to lead India’s EV transition. Haryana boasts manufacturing clusters, technical institutions, automotive supply chains, and a skilled workforce that provide a strategic advantage unrivalled by others. A proactive government could have effectively leveraged its strengths by participating in the E-DRIVE program, tailoring skilling initiatives through its Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), activating industrial clusters for EV component manufacturing, and transforming Gurugram-Manesar into a leading electric mobility hub. Instead, this inaction allows competitors to surge ahead, closing the window for Haryana to capitalise on this critical shift. The time for decisive action is now; Haryana must not miss out on this pivotal opportunity.
Urban Haryana Pays the Price of Inaction
The consequences of Haryana’s decision are far-reaching and cannot be ignored. The state’s densely populated urban centres, particularly Gurugram and Faridabad, are grappling with surging pollution levels and significant strain on public transportation. The national e-Bus Sewa scheme presents a critical opportunity to deploy electric buses, modernise fleets, reduce emissions, and significantly enhance daily mobility for millions of commuters. For a state where the urban population heavily relies on shared and public transport, opting out is tantamount to forfeiting essential central financial support at a time when urban transportation systems are in dire need of upgrades. Even a partial commitment, similar to that of Bihar or Maharashtra, would have clearly signalled Haryana’s determination to lead in clean mobility rather than fall behind.
Rural Mobility Also Stands to Lose
The implications extend deeply into rural and peri-urban areas of Haryana, where mobility is woven into the very fabric of the economy. Villages depend on tractors, two-wheelers, shared autos, and small commercial vehicles — all of which are poised to transition to electric alternatives in the coming decade. National electric vehicle (EV) initiatives are vital for channelling innovation, subsidies, and affordable mobility solutions to these communities. By excluding itself from such programs, Haryana risks neglecting those populations that stand to gain the most from reduced fuel dependence and lower operating costs. This industrial transition is not solely about urban areas; rural households and small transport operators must be included in the shift toward cleaner mobility.
A Federal Partnership Haryana Is Ignoring
I want to point out the federal implications as well. India’s green transition hinges on a robust partnership between the central government and the states, relying on mutual assistance and coordinated efforts. While E-DRIVE may originate at the national level, it grants states considerable latitude for local adaptations. Haryana has a golden opportunity to tailor its participation to enhance its industrial clusters, technical universities, and job market. A decision to abstain is not a neutral stance; it represents a strategic misstep that stifles the state’s technological and industrial advancement.
Public Transport Modernisation Slips Away
Furthermore, Haryana could leverage its existing transport utilities to spearhead clean mobility projects under e-Bus Sewa, modernising fleets in crucial cities such as Gurugram, Faridabad, Rohtak, Panipat, and Hisar. By opting out, Haryana endangers its own progress in public transport reliability, air quality, and urban livability.
Competitor States Are Seizing the EV Future
The competitive landscape among states amplifies the urgency of this situation. Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are already leading destinations for global EV investors, while Maharashtra positions itself as a hub for battery alliances and next-generation auto manufacturing. These states are skillfully integrating national EV programs into their local industrial policies to capture foreign investment and secure long-term commitments. In stark contrast, Haryana’s inaction conveys instability and uncertainty to investors, which can severely impact their decisions on where to establish new factories, research and development centres, or supplier networks.
The Heavy Cost of Hesitation
It is crucial to recognise that the EV transition transcends ideology; it embodies a clear mandate for industrial foresight. Remaining outside of E-DRIVE and e-Bus Sewa incurs significant opportunity costs — the loss of early-mover advantages, new investments, green jobs, federal support for clean mobility, and competitiveness in a sector that has historically defined Haryana’s economic narrative. Mobility technologies are advancing rapidly; industrial transitions reward those who act decisively and penalise those who wait. The longer Haryana hesitates, the narrower its window of opportunity becomes.
