SWITCH Mobility Limited, part of the Hinduja Group, and intercity mobility operator PURPLE BUS have launched an electric bus service on the Nagpur–Chandrapur route, marking the region’s first private electric intercity service. The launch extends PURPLE BUS’s network in Vidarbha and adds to the companies’ efforts to expand electric public transport in Maharashtra.
The inauguration coincided with Dussehra and was marked by the flag-off of the first batch of six SWITCH EiV12m electric intercity coaches. The deployment is part of an order for 50 buses for operations in the Vidarbha region. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari attended the event.
The service is intended to improve connectivity between Nagpur and Chandrapur by offering passengers an alternative to conventional diesel-powered intercity transport. The launch also marks the third intercity deployment between SWITCH Mobility and Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions in 2026, following services on the Mumbai–Pune route in April and the Dombivli–Pune route in October.
Ganesh Mani, Chief Executive Officer of SWITCH Mobility, said the Nagpur–Chandrapur corridor had close economic and cultural links and that the new service would extend the company’s partnership with PURPLE BUS into Vidarbha. He said the deployment was part of SWITCH Mobility’s effort to support reliable and sustainable public transport across Maharashtra and other regions.
Saurabh Patwardhan, Director of PURPLE BUS, said the company aimed to expand electric intercity travel route by route. He said its electric fleet had covered more than one million kilometres in intercity operations, providing operating data on costs and performance. According to the company, electric coaches offer lower total cost of ownership and lower cost per passenger-kilometre than diesel buses.
The SWITCH EiV12m intercity coach is designed for long-distance passenger transport. It has 45 pushback seats, a claimed range of 350 kilometres per charge and fast-charging capability. The coach also features safety systems and SWITCH iON connected technology for real-time vehicle monitoring.
The Nagpur–Chandrapur deployment is expected to support passenger movement between two important cities in Vidarbha while contributing to the adoption of electric mobility in intercity transport. The partnership reflects the growing use of electric coaches on routes that require regular, high-frequency services.
SWITCH Mobility manufactures electric buses and light commercial vehicles, drawing on the engineering capabilities of Ashok Leyland. The company reports more than 3,000 electric buses operating globally, with over 200 million kilometres travelled. Its electric light commercial vehicle range, the SWITCH IeV Series, has more than 3,000 vehicles on the road.
PURPLE BUS, operated by Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions, has a fleet of more than 1,000 buses and provides intercity travel, city bus services, employee transportation and school bus operations. The company serves around 700,000 passengers daily and has more than 84 electric intercity coaches in operation. It plans to increase its electric intercity fleet to 300 coaches over the next two years.
