India Delivers First Batch of 10 Electric Buses to Mauritius, Strengthening Development Ties

Port Louis – In a significant step towards deepening development cooperation, India has handed over the first batch of 10 electric buses to Mauritius. The vehicles were formally presented by Indian High Commissioner Anurag Srivastava to Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam at a ceremony held on Wednesday.

The handover took place at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation in Reduit — a landmark institution symbolizing India-Mauritius friendship. The event was attended by several Mauritian ministers, junior ministers, and senior officials.

The initiative marks a key milestone in the India-Mauritius green partnership and reflects the commitments outlined in the Enhanced Strategic Partnership, reaffirmed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Mauritius in March 2025.

The Indian High Commission in Port Louis shared details of the event on social media platform X, quoting Prime Minister Ramgoolam who described the e-bus project as a “paradigm shift in public transport and a symbol of the enduring special relationship between India and Mauritius.”

PM Ramgoolam emphasized the project's impact on reducing carbon emissions, lowering fuel imports, and creating employment in the electric mobility sector. He also praised India’s support in other vital sectors such as the Blue Economy, Artificial Intelligence, technology, food security, and maritime safety.

Speaking at the event, High Commissioner Srivastava reiterated India's commitment to a people-focused and sustainable development partnership with Mauritius. He called the new electric buses “moving symbols of our friendship and our joint commitment to a greener planet.”

Srivastava also outlined India’s broader support for Mauritius’s green transition, including the commissioning of an 8 MW solar photovoltaic farm in Henrietta, 100 solar-powered street lights, and a community solar farm in Rodrigues.

During PM Modi’s visit in March, the two leaders jointly inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation, a flagship initiative under the India-Mauritius development cooperation, aimed at strengthening capacity building in the island nation.

India has been a key development partner for Mauritius since its independence, contributing significantly to infrastructure and socio-economic development across the country. Major India-supported projects include the Mauritius Metro Express, New Supreme Court Building, ENT Hospital, 956 social housing units, and educational tablets distributed across schools.

Prime Minister Ramgoolam expressed deep appreciation for India’s ongoing support, stating that these collaborative efforts have positively impacted various sectors and all segments of Mauritian society.

With inputs from IANS