Jammu and Kashmir’s faltering transport sector could be set for a much needed boost as the administration has ordered around 150-200 e-buses to plied on roads on Jammu and Srinagar for inter-city and intra-city transport.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a preliminary meeting with the Chairman and MD of Olectra Greentech Ltd, Sh KV Pradeep, and discussed the modalities for introducing electric buses for cleaner, better inter-city and intra-city transport facilities in the UT of J&K.
During the meeting, the Lt Governor observed that electric vehicles are the future of transport as they are eco-friendly, ideal for the urban environment, and contribute in reducing pollution levels.
The Government aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, promote greener, sustainable mobility solutions, said the Lt Governor.
The Chairman Olectra Greentech Ltd, an electric vehicle manufacturing company, gave a PowerPoint presentation and briefed the Lt Governor about the company which has, so far, deployed around 600 electric buses across India and has 2500 buses under manufacturing process.
The Lt Governor maintained that the government is committed to explore all the possibilities to transform Jammu and Srinagar into modern, sustainable, and economically vibrant cities, and making Jammu and Srinagar, the superlative smart cities of the country.
Pertinently, the Government of India has launched the second phase of the FAME-II scheme for promoting electric vehicles.
The scheme provides incentives and subsidy for manufacturing as well as the purchase of electric vehicles.
The addition of 150-200 more e-buses will facilitate safer, greener, and reliable transportation for the public.
Recently the administration was left red faced after the much hyped electric bus service were stopped suddenly.
Now with another shot at reviving the public transport sector in J&K, will the administration succeed or not remains to be seen.