While delivering the keynote address at the launch of the ‘Electric Mobility Forum’ of research organisation WRI India, vice-president Venkaiah Naidu, on March 28, 2019, called for the development of a comprehensive mobility plan, to meet the needs of cities for a period of 30-40 years. “Standalone metro systems are not effective and need a holistic approach. Globally, the mobility sector is acquiring new paradigms. Shared mobility, electric vehicles, bicycles and connected vehicles are taking the centre-stage and India must also follow the same,” he said.
The forum, launched by the vice-president, is aimed at revolutionising electric mobility in the country and accelerating the transition towards clean electric vehicles. Naidu, citing figures, said it took 70 years to build 60,000 petrol pumps in the country and viewed that building the ecosystem for electric vehicles will take time, as around five lakh charging stations will be needed to power the clean vehicles.
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He termed climate change as the biggest challenge facing the earth, saying the best way to face it is to be friendly with nature and live in harmony with it. “As we brace ourselves to cope with this challenge of climate change, we will have to marshal all our intelligence, knowledge, science and understanding of nature to do that,” Naidu said. Air quality has been a matter of concern and every winter, several parts of the country face ambient air quality that is extremely poor. This cannot be allowed to go on, he said. “We need to systematically identify the sources of the problem and deal with them. Otherwise, this will adversely impact the health and well-being of city residents, especially our children,” he said.
Naidu also focused on the need to educate people and create infrastructure, for meeting the goals of providing adequate transportation facilities to the people, while tackling the issue of pollution. “You have to educate people about the dangers of climate change and create awareness about taking care of our surroundings,” he said while advocating the move from private to public transport.
