Welcoming the decision of the Urban Development Ministry, to allow electric vehicles access to the middle and inner circle of Connaught Place from February 2017, Mr. Sohinder Gill, Director Corporate Affairs, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) said, “We have been highlighting the pressing concern over increasing air pollution and traffic congestion as large number of vehicles run on fossil fuel. It was extremely necessary that we adopt the greener mode of transportation in India in a mission mode. The spark has been created by the Government and the mission has kick-started. The initiative will go a long way in improving the ecosystem of the area, providing cleaner, healthier and safer mobility to the commuters.”
Speaking on the constraints, Mr Gill, stated, “For smooth implementation of the drive, new charging points have to be built in middle and inner circles of the iconic market that will turn into an exclusive pedestrian zone from February 2017. To align with the infrastructure requirement, SMEV is demanding special incentives for the developers of charging points in the ensuing Union Budget 2017.”
SMEV is keen to collaborate with NDMC and the Urban development Ministry to introduce Electric Scooters and Electric cars as a viable pollution free alternative for the CP residents and traders..
For greater green benefit changing all commercial/ delivery two wheelers to electric is recommended. Commercial two wheelers are currently engaged in the e- commerce and delivery services like courier and restaurant businesses, Mr Gill added.
On the adoption of CNG as a mitigation strategy for the air pollution for NCR, Mr Gill emphasised, “CNG is not a completely clean mode as it also pollutes, though to a lesser degree. The long-term strategy for the clean and green mobility landscape for India has to be electric vehicles and the government and industry should work cohesively to optimize the gains..”
Further, Mr Gill said, “For the smart cities which are being built across India, the electric vehicles industry is all geared up to provide the viable and clean mobility solutions. We expect that the work on smart cities and adoption of the electric vehicles will further provide fillip to the industry, poised to cater to the green mobility revolution in India. The immediate goal is to bring one million electric wheelers on road by 2017.”