Government to come out with policies to get public transport in most Indian cities

The government will come up with policies to introduce public transport in most Indian cities, wherein the electric vehicle industry can expect generous support, Advisor to the Prime Minister Tarun Kapoor said at a FICCI Roundtable on Electric Mobility.

Kapoor added that while the government will come out with policies to get public transport to most Indian cities, they will ensure this transition takes place via electricity and not diesel. "You can look forward to very large support from the government so that not only we will see transition from diesel buses, but we will see more and more electric public transport which is missing."

Kapoor further stated that in case of 2-wheelers, we should aim to transition close to 100 percent in the next 5-7 years and there is no reason why we can't do it, he emphasised. "The price has come down slightly as India is a very price sensitive market and therefore, the price has to come down further. The support from the government including subsidies, taxes, and policy reforms will not take us beyond a point but it is the industry who must take it forward," he asserted.

Speaking on the adoption of electric vehicles in public transport, Kapoor said that the government will come out with policies to get public transport to most of the Indian cities. We will also ensure that this happens with electric vehicles and not with diesel only. "You can look forward to very large support from the government so that not only we will see the transition from diesel buses, but we will see more and more electric public transport which is missing," he added.  

He also urged the industry for more investments in battery manufacturing, along with the entire value chain of battery manufacturing. “Battery manufacturing requires more innovation and not being dependent on lithium batteries only, he added.