Reliance-backed electric buses to augment TTD transport ahead of festivals
Tirupati — Reliance Foundation on Wednesday handed over a fleet of 25 electric buses and a dedicated electric-vehicle charging station to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), a move officials said will strengthen the trust’s efforts to provide cleaner transport for pilgrims visiting the hill shrine.
The vehicles were formally flagged off by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at an event in Tirumala. The handover comes ahead of two Srivari Brahmotsavams, the major temple festivals expected to draw large numbers of devotees to the region.
- Reliance Foundation provided philanthropic support for the buses.
- Jio-bp supplied expertise on electric mobility and EV charging infrastructure.
- The donation fulfils a commitment made by Anant Ambani during his June 2026 visit to Tirumala.
TTD and Reliance Foundation have been collaborating to develop the charging facilities and other infrastructure needed to operate an electric fleet, the announcement said. Officials described the addition as part of TTD’s ongoing green mobility drive, intended to reduce reliance on conventional fuel-powered vehicles and offer environmentally responsible travel options for the millions who visit Tirumala each year.
"Millions of devotees visit the sacred hills of Tirumala each year for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara. Supporting their journey is both a privilege and a responsibility. These 25 electric buses are our humble contribution to TTD’s efforts to make the pilgrimage to Tirumala more comfortable while helping safeguard the region’s rich biodiversity," said Anant Ambani, Executive Director, Reliance Industries Limited.
The initiative is a joint effort: while Reliance Foundation provided philanthropic funding, Jio-bp contributed technical know-how on electric mobility and charging infrastructure. Officials said the combined approach addressed both vehicle supply and the backend charging network required to keep an electric fleet operational in a hill shrine environment.
Local impact and operational questions
Stakeholders view the donation as timely given the expected rise in pilgrim traffic during the festival period. The buses are intended to serve pilgrims on routes within Tirumala and between Tirumala and Tirupati, helping to ease pressure on fossil-fuelled transport and mitigate local emissions.
Practical considerations remain, officials indicated, including the long-term management of the charging facility, scheduling and maintenance of buses, and integration with existing TTD transport services. The announcement did not provide an operational timetable or detailed routes for the new buses, nor a schedule for when each vehicle will enter service.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of buses | 25 |
| Supporting body | Reliance Foundation |
| Technical partner | Jio-bp (EV charging expertise) |
| Flag-off | Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Tirumala |
Environmental campaigners welcomed the strengthening of electric mobility options for pilgrim transport but underlined the need for robust systems to ensure charger uptime and timely maintenance of vehicles. For hill shrine areas, where terrain and seasonal pilgrim flows vary, reliable charging and contingency plans are essential to avoid service disruptions.
TTD manages one of the country’s busiest pilgrimage circuits, with annual footfalls measured in millions. The addition of electric buses aligns with broader government and corporate efforts to promote cleaner transport, particularly in high-footfall heritage and religious sites where air quality and waste management are persistent challenges.
Officials said the buses and charging station will be monitored to assess their performance, energy usage and maintenance requirements as part of a longer-term strategy to expand green mobility options for devotees. Further details on deployment timelines and service routes are expected to be released by TTD in due course.
By combining philanthropic support with industry expertise, the project aims to demonstrate a model for public–private collaboration on sustainable transport in a pilgrimage context. How quickly the vehicles are integrated into daily operations and their impact on local emissions will determine the initiative’s immediate benefit to Tirupati–Tirumala residents and visitors.
