NITI Aayog, WRI jointly launch forum for decarbonisation of transport sector


NITI Aayog, WRI jointly launch forum for decarbonisation of transport sector

NITI Aayog in association with World Resources Institute (WRI) launches the Forum for Decarbonising Transport in the country.

The government’s official statement reads, “Through this forum, the WRI India team, along with NITI Aayog and other project partners, will work in close coordination with all the stakeholders to formulate strategies and develop appropriate business models to accelerate electric mobility in India.”

It further states that the forum eyes to create a platform to begin dialogues for the progress of uniform policies and help achieve specific results in reducing carbon emissions from the transport sector.

Currently, India is engaged in building a domestic renewable automotive industry with the plan to become the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturing and supplying hub. Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari lately told that the battery electric vehicle and fuel-cell vehicle technologies are all set to overtake fossil-run vehicles in the country by 2050.

During the launch, NITI Aayog CEO (chief executive officer) Amitabh Kant says, “This will help in the development of innovative business models for targeted results and the holistic growth of the electric mobility space in India. Through effective collaboration, cooperation and convergence, we must work together to usher clean mobility in India.”

Amit Bhatt, executive director, Integrated Transport division of WRI India says, “The Forum for Decarbonisation of Transport will act as the conduit for bringing diverse voices and needs to adopt an integrated approach for greening the transport sector in India.”

The forum is a part of the Nationally Determined Contribution -Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC-TIA) project that focuses on developing a coherent strategy of effective policies and the formation of a multi-stakeholder platform for decarbonising transport in the region. It is a joint program of seven organisations that would engage China, India, and Vietnam in promoting a comprehensive approach to decarbonising transport in their respective countries. The project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).

The launch was virtual and inaugurated by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant. Dignitaries from various ministries and NDC-TIA project partners, along with stakeholders from the mobility and the energy sector, were present during the launch.

The Indian government last year rolled out a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for various industries including an outlay of over 57,00 crore for the automobile and auto-component industry over a period of five years. Around 18,000 crore was approved for development of advanced cell chemistry battery storage manufacturing. Gadkari said these incentives further aim to encourage indigenous development of EVs so as to bring down their upfront cost.