The Cochin International Airport is set to become the first airport in the country to operate hydrogen-powered buses for passenger transportation.
This was after Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Kerala Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster (HVIC) Foundation last Sunday. Electricity Minister and ANERT governing body chairman K. Krishnankutty, on behalf of the Kerala HVIC Foundation, and Industries Minister P. Rajeeve signed the agreement.
The agreement pertains to the procurement and operation of three hydrogen fuel cell electric buses, priced ₹2.90 crore a bus, at the Kochi airport as part of the Kerala Hydrogen Valley initiative under the National Green Hydrogen Mission of the Union government. Under the MoA, the K-HVIC Foundation will provide a financial outlay limited to ₹8.7 crore to be released in stages.
The procurement of the buses is scheduled to be completed within 12 months. The ownership of the buses will rest with CIAL, which will bear the operational and statutory expenses and decide the operational model and routes.
CIAL managing director S. Suhas, Kerala HVIC Foundation chairman and managing director Harshil R. Meena, and Ranjith Krishna Pai, senior director and scientist, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, were present at the event.
The project is expected to significantly enhance passenger convenience while reducing emissions from airport transport operations. With the green hydrogen plant constructed jointly by CIAL and BPCL set to commence operations, fuel supply for the buses will be ensured, a statement issued by CIAL said.
Published – February 03, 2026 08:07 pm IST
