Bhubaneswar: Odisha has taken a major step towards developing a green hydrogen-based public transport system, with the state government reviewing plans to launch hydrogen-powered buses and establish its first green hydrogen ecosystem for urban mobility.
A high-level meeting chaired by Usha Padhee reviewed the progress of the proposed Green Hydrogen Mobility Project, which is being jointly developed by Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), NTPC Limited and GRIDCO, Prameya News reported.
The project is aimed at introducing hydrogen-powered public transport services in Odisha while supporting India’s clean energy goals under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Officials reviewed developments since the signing of a tripartite memorandum of understanding among NTPC, GRIDCO and CRUT. The project proposes the establishment of a green hydrogen production and refuelling facility at CRUT’s Pokhariput Depot in Bhubaneswar and the deployment of three Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Buses as a pilot initiative.
Under the proposal, the facility is expected to produce around 260 kilograms of green hydrogen per day. The hydrogen-powered buses are designed to operate up to 600 kilometres daily under ideal conditions.
Officials said the initiative is expected to provide a clean public transport alternative while eliminating tailpipe emissions and reducing nearly 900 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
The total project cost has been estimated at Rs 53.55 crore. Of this, Rs 19.52 crore has been approved as financial assistance under the National Green Hydrogen Mission through the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The remaining investment is expected to come through stakeholder contributions and state support mechanisms.
The review meeting examined operational planning, route selection, financial viability, risk-sharing arrangements and the responsibilities of participating agencies. Under the proposed framework, NTPC will develop and operate the hydrogen production and refuelling infrastructure, GRIDCO will facilitate power supply and applicable subsidies, while CRUT will oversee bus operations and passenger services.
Officials also discussed concerns relating to operating costs, revenue-sharing mechanisms, risk allocation and long-term financial sustainability. The meeting noted that while the project introduces advanced clean-energy technology, a balanced implementation framework would be essential to ensure operational viability and protect public resources.
The proposed pilot routes were also reviewed. Officials suggested focusing the initial deployment on the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack–Khordha–Puri–Konark corridor to demonstrate the feasibility of hydrogen-powered public transport while ensuring operational efficiency.
Discussions were also held on land allocation, regulatory clearances, viability gap funding and institutional coordination required for project implementation.
Padhee said the initiative has the potential to place Odisha among the leading states adopting next-generation clean mobility technologies. She stressed the need to build a scalable hydrogen ecosystem that could serve as a model for sustainable public transportation across the country.
She directed all participating agencies to work closely together to resolve pending technical, financial and regulatory issues and ensure timely implementation of the project. The meeting also considered the creation of a dedicated monitoring and coordination mechanism to oversee execution and strengthen cooperation among stakeholders.
The meeting was attended by Md Siddique Alam, senior officials from NTPC, GRIDCO, IPICOL and the Housing and Urban Development Department.
