Minister sets target for 5 lakh e-buses
Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for Rs.1,128 crore worth of seven National Highways in Gwalior on 15 Sept 2022.
These 222-km projects will facilitate traffic through bypass construction in Mihona, Lahar, Daboh and Bhander, he said, giving details of work scope.
With the completion of four lane bridge from Maharani Laxmibai statue to IIITM on Swarnrekha river in Gwalior, the completion of these area-related projects will make it easy to move from one end of the city to the other, he said.
“The famous Sanchi Stupa, Chanderi and Shivpuri tourist places will be easily accessible,” added Gadkari.
“There will be better connectivity between Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Also, inter-state movement between Bhopal, Gwalior and Jhansi districts will be smooth.”
Gadkari has also called for professionally managed public transport system based on electricity in public-private partnership mode, pointing out that this will get a good response.
Addressing ‘INSIGHT 2022’: International Conference on Sustainable and Innovative Finance for Green and Healthy Transportation on 15 Sept 2022, he said capital investment is not an issue if there is a correct model to implement the developments of the system.
Appreciating the London transport model, the Minister said people want more comfort in less rate.
He proposed use of card or QR code-based entry-exit system in place of physical ticket system in the buses to prevent losses to the bus corporations and promote ease of travelling.
He emphasized that with coming of electric buses there will be reduction in pollution and a significant reduction in use of imported diesel and crude oil.
“We are trying to make Rs.15 lakh crore automobile industry as it has given maximum revenue to state and central governments,” he said.
The Minister congratulated Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EEL), for tender of 5450 e-buses, the largest such order in the world.
He has also set a target of 5 lakh e-Buses instead of 50,000 electric-driven buses.
Gadkari said green Hydrogen is future of mobility, and have proposed setting of E-road from Delhi to Jaipur among other destinations.
“Alternate fuels, new technologies and innovations in transport sector must be deployed for economic viability and sustainable development,” he said. fiinews.com
