Prime Minister Narendra Modi today pitched for investments in manufacturing of electric vehicles and smart charging facilities as he emphasised that better mobility can boost growth.
Asserting that mobility powered by clean energy is the most powerful weapon in the fight against climate change, he said the focus must go beyond cars to other vehicles such as scooters and rickshaws.
Addressing the Global Mobility Summit ‘MOVE’ in New Delhi, Mr Modi said, congestion-free mobility is critical to check the economic and environmental costs of congestion.
Noting that mobility is a key driver of the economy, the Prime Minister said better mobility reduces the burden of travel and transportation and can boost economic growth. Mr Modi said mobility is already a major employer and can create the next generation of jobs.
Prime minister said, common public transport must be the cornerstone of mobility initiatives also shared his vision
for the future of mobility in India is based on 7 Cs — Common, Connected, Convenient, Congestion-free, Charged, Clean and Cutting Edge.
While stressing on the need to widely use common public transport to drive mobility initiatives, the Prime Minister said the focus must also go beyond cars to other vehicles.
Mr Modi said all must leverage the full potential for vehicle pooling to improve private vehicle utilisation, convenient mobility means safe, affordable and accessible for all sections of the society.
Emphasising on public transport, the Prime minister said, public transport is preferred to private modes of travel as it would result in fewer traffic jams and lower levels of stress for commuters.
Prime minister said, Indian entrepreneurs and manufacturers are now poised to develop and deploy break-through battery technology that would mean a pollution-free clean drive, leading to clean air and better living standards for people.
Listing out government’s initiatives, the Prime minister said the pace of construction of highways has doubled, rural road-building programme re-energised, fuel efficient and cleaner fuel vehicles are being promoted and low-cost air connectivity in under-served regions is being developed.
Mr Modi said indeed, India is on the MOVE, the economy is on the MOVE and India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
Our correspondent reports, the government is targeting electric vehicles to account for 15 per cent of all vehicles sales in five years in a bid to curb greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
An estimated 2,000 electric vehicles were sold last year.
CEOs of global auto majors are attending the two-day summit.
