Pink is the New Green: How Indore’s Growing Electric Bus Fleet Is Driving Progress on Air Quality and Women’s Empowerment

Several men and women, some in pink and black uniforms, stand beside a pink bus and pose for a group photograph.
The U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti (center), and Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav (on his left) pose with the city commissioner and staff of the city’s new pink electric bus in Indore on March 7, 2024.

The city of Indore is working to integrate women into its growing clean-energy public transportation workforce. Its new electric buses promise to open new opportunities for women’s representation and empowerment while reducing air pollution.

Anuradha Shukla, age 29, no longer needs to face the common difficulties of using public transportation to travel approximately 15 kilometers from her residence in Indore to her office in Vijay Nagar. Working as a Senior Software Engineer in a multinational company, Shukla says, “There is no diesel-petrol smell, no vehicle noise. Additionally, the absence of dust, smoke, and heat in the electric bus makes the journey feel less tiring. Travel has become convenient and comfortable.”

Shukla is one of many Indore residents who now enjoys a pleasant commute through the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor, one of the first clean energy-powered bus corridors in India. The BRTS corridor in Indore is a dedicated 11.3-kilometer lane for buses designed to improve the efficiency and reliability of public transportation. It typically includes features such as segregated lanes, priority at intersections, Pink Bus reserved for women only, and enhanced passenger facilities. The exact route of the BRTS corridor in Indore has 20 stops between Rajiv Gandhi Square and Niranjanpur. 

Manoj Pathak, CEO of the company operating the BRTS corridor, Atal Indore City Transport Service Limited (AICTSL), and the Additional Commissioner of Indore, explains, “The BRTS Corridor in Indore has been transformed into a 100% green, mobility-friendly corridor since March 15, 2024. Now, along the BRTS corridor, out of a total of 59 buses, 30 are electric buses, and 29 are running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) instead of diesel ones. This is a significant step towards improving the air quality of Indore.”

The U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, had the chance to meet drivers of the new, pink electric bus fleet whose operators and riders are all women. While speaking with the drivers and staff, Ambassador Garcetti said, “You are role models for other women, and you will inspire other women to lead independent lives.” Indore Mayor, Pushyamitra Bhargav, who accompanied the Ambassador, added “Having led in cleanliness for seven years, we are now committed to freeing Indore from vehicular pollution by becoming pioneers in clean energy for vehicles, especially using solar energy.”

A man boards a bus while greeting the female driver.
U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti rode the Pink Bus in Indore on March 7, 2024.

Pollution from cars, trucks and buses is a major issue in Indore, with the number of vehicles increasing every year. In a survey supported by Clean Air Catalyst’s consortium partner, Internews, 76.7% of respondents reported experiencing health issues due to vehicular pollution during their commutes. Vehicular emissions contain harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and suspended particulate matter, which disproportionately impact women’s health.

Like Shukla, female passengers of the BRTS corridor are particularly pleased that their journey is not only more comfortable and convenient but also safer. There are blue e-buses for everyone, and pink buses reserved for women. These pink buses started in June 2021, but until March 2024, they ran on diesel fuel. Nisha Sharma, a pink bus driver, says, “When women see other women driving the bus, fellow female passengers feel safe and content. Although I have also driven blue buses for both men and women, some men are also happy to see us driving the bus.” 

“Buses running on diesel emit more smoke—this negatively impacts women’s health, especially pregnant women who find it difficult to breathe, experience coughing, and suffer from headaches.”

— Nisha Sharma, bus driver

Dr. Mala Singh Thakur, the Public Relations Officer of AICTSL, explains, “According to our survey, 60% of the passengers traveling in these buses are youth while 49% are women. We make every effort to ensure the participation of women in the operation of public transportation in Indore. Initially, on the BRTS corridor, we appointed women at ticket windows for city bus operations. Subsequently, we integrated women as bus drivers and conductors.” 

According to Thakur, “In 2019, the introduction of 40 electric buses marked the beginning of clean energy utilization in Indore’s public transportation system. Now, apart from the 30 electric buses on the BRTS, 50 electric buses will be introduced in other parts of Indore.” This next batch of buses is expected later this year. Complementing the city’s bus electrification efforts, Thakur further stated that the Prime Minister’s National E-Bus Scheme will deliver an additional 150 electric buses to Indore city within the next teo-to-three months. 

Split image showing a front view of a pink bus on the left, and the female driver of the bus on the right.
Pink electric bus and driver.

The city is also in the process of setting up 47 charging stations for electric buses, most of which will be powered by solar energy. In addition to buses, electric-rickshaws and two-wheelers will also be able to charge at these stations. Even the traffic signals along the BRTS are powered by solar energy. 

Electric-buses offer a clear example of how Indore’s efforts to improve air quality can also help boost women’s participation. Ritu Narwale, Madhya Pradesh’s first female bus driver, shared, “Initially, I only drove buses within the city, but now I drive electric buses on the Indore-Bhopal highway. Our company is actively recruiting women on a large scale for bus operations.” Narwale’s company, NueGo, operates electric buses between Indore and Bhopal, the state capitol, as well as in several other cities across India.

“In electric buses, there’s no smoke emission, leading to reduced pollution. Breathing becomes easier, and they generate minimal noise, thereby reducing noise pollution.”

— Nisha Sharma

Both Narwale and Sharma attended a gender empowerment and training workshop titled “Women in Clean Air” in Indore in December, 2023, where they learned about the adverse effects of air pollution on women’s health and discussed strategies for boosting women’s participation in policy solutions. The workshop was hosted by Clean Air Catalyst, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and co-led by the World Resources Institute and Environmental Defense Fund.

This blog was originally published on the Clean Air Catalyst website.