21/05/2026
As global fuel and energy concerns return amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 10th May, emphasized that the future of cities depends on stronger public transport and sustainable mobility choices.
At Germany’s Green and Sustainable Development Partnership ( ), we are proud to support India’s journey towards cleaner, climate-resilient urban transport systems.
Last week, colleagues from the Economic Cooperation & Development and Transport Digital divisions visited Surat and Gandhinagar to see how Gujarat’s cities are turning ambitious mobility goals into practical solutions.
In Surat, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system already operates with a fully electric fleet, with plans for a completely electric city bus network by 2027.
The delegation highlighted the importance of safe, accessible public transport and stronger first and last mile connectivity.
Highlights from the Althan Bus Depot included:
☀️ 100 kWh solar PV installation
🔋 224 kWh second-life battery storage
⚡ 146 MWh clean energy generated
🚌 Enough energy to charge around 2.5 e-buses daily
At Surat Smart City’s Integrated Command and Control Centre, digital dashboards and climate-risk monitoring tools demonstrated India’s push towards data-driven urban planning.
The “Pink Bus” initiative under the Gender Lab project was a memorable part of the visit. Inspired by her struggle to find transport for her paralyzed mother, one woman driver chose to take the wheel herself, turning the Pink Bus into a symbol connecting policy ambitions with lived realities.
Ahmedabad impressed with its focus on mobility and multi-modal integration. Travelling on the Ahmedabad Metro from Sector-1 to Mahatma Mandir, the delegation observed how metro systems, railway infrastructure, and public spaces are being integrated to improve commuter experience and encourage public transport use.
The delegation also met Shri S. S. Rathore, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Gujarat and Chairperson of Gift City, to discuss the future of Indo-German cooperation and sustainable urban development.
The visit, bringing together representatives from India and Germany including Siemens, Deutsche Bahn, and Bosch Rexroth, highlighted opportunities for collaboration in urban transport, technology, and infrastructure development.
Across the cities, one message stood out clearly: sustainable public transport is not only about reducing emissions, but also about improving quality of life, strengthening energy resilience, and building more inclusive and future-ready cities.
