NAGPUR: India’s first multi-model electric vehicle project was inaugurated in Nagpur on Friday by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Surface Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari.
A fleet of 200 electric cars, buses and e-rickshaws, and four charging stations were launched as part of the project. The project involves automobile manufacturer Mahindra ELECTRIC and cab service provider Ola as partners along with the Government of India.
Mr.Gadkari said this was a pilot project and would later be replicated all over India. “We need to encourage the use of pollution-free energy in our country. We have a surplus in coal and electricity now, but we are spending a lot on crude oil import. We need cost-effective, indigenous and pollution-free energy. All our State-run transport services are in loss. We have decided to rope in a London-based company to develop cost-effective and pollution-free transport. With this project, I dream that there will be 50% reduction in the fares of public transport electric buses. However, the rates will not be low at the beginning. With the increase in its productivity, the fares will go down,” he said.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the project was the first such project to reduce pollution.
“This project will help the common man. Every charging station for these electric vehicles also has solar facilities, which means this project will provide green and clean transport to Nagpur, and I am extremely happy that Nagpur has become the first city to get it,” he added.
