With electric power-based locomotion becoming the preferred mode of transport sooner than later, the Andhra Pradesh government will soon come up with an ‘Electric mobility policy’. This makes it the first State to not only identify and tap the potentially emerging sector, but also make a vision plan in tune with its policy of promoting clean energy.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu made the announcement on Tuesday after laying foundation stone for the ultra modern global scale manufacturing facility of the Apollo Tyres at Chinna Pandur in Satyavedu, the tail-end constituency abutting Tamil Nadu. He called electric-powered mobility as the next generation mode of transportation that must be adopted at the earliest. “As a pioneer that embraced several emerging technologies, Andhra Pradesh will go for electric vehicles in a big way.”
He said emphasis would be laid on Research and Development (R&D), creating demand and improving the charging infrastructure.
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The Chief Minister foresaw the State emerging as an automobile cluster, referring to the presence of the Isuzu Motors, the Amara Raja batteries, the Hero Motors and the Apollo Tyres in Chittoor, the Ashok Leyland in Krishna and the Kia Motors in Anantapuram districts, besides scores of ancillary units.
Mr. Naidu was all praise for Industries Secretary Solomon Arokiaraj and all the officials for addressing issues on a real-time basis, thus ensuring top position in terms of ‘Ease of doing business' for the State. Rolling out the red carpet, Cabinet Ministers N. Amarnatha Reddy (Industries) and Nara Lokesh (Information Technology) offered their best services to the captains of industry in the form of single desk portal for online approval and said inspection-cum-clearance processes had been made easy.
Apollo group Chairman Onkar Kanwar and Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Neeraj Kanwar called their arrival in Andhra Pradesh not just a business venture but a ‘commitment’ to the region.
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