Delhi favours Electric Mobility but insist on more clarity: Kailash Gahlot, Minister of Transport, Delhi

NEW DELHI: Kailash Gahlot, Hon’ble Minister of Transport, Information & Technology, Administrative Reforms, Law & Justice and Revenue, Government of NCT of Delhi inaugurated the Mega Summit on Electric Vehicle and Expo at PHD House, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi on January 19, 2018.

Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India addressed the forum through video message. He appreciated the organizers and said that Government is very much open on suggestions coming from business community and people as well.

Co-organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industries (PHD Chamber) and India CSR Network (Largest Corporate Sustainability & Responsibility Network in India), the Electric Vehicle Summit and Expo reaffirms that the time is now ripe for embracing new vision and technology for greener mobility for better tomorrow.

Government of NCT of Delhi has sought more clarity on the issue of subsidy from the Centre for plying electric vehicles in and around Delhi and pressed for this issue at a meeting held with Nitin Gadkari on Thursday in which the Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi was also present among other key stakeholders, discloses Minister of Transport, IT, Administrative Reforms, Law & Justice and Revenue, Government of NCT of Delhi, Kailash Gahlot.

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Inaugurating Electric Vehicle Summit under aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, Gahlot though asserted that government of NCT of Delhi is equally in favour of moving electric vehicles in and around Delhi as per schedule prescribed by Centre, it is, however, still demanding clarity on the issue of subsidy on such vehicles from the Centre Government since the issue of electric mobility with new technology is still evolving at policy level as well as with those of manufacturers.

“I have already met all the stakeholders including manufacturers of electric vehicles in recent past and the Chief Minister of Delhi is very keen that electric mobility is introduced to NCT of Delhi with certain vigour but it would persist on more clarity on subsidy part as I have already observed”, said the Minister without disclosing in details the outcome of its meeting with Nitin Gadkari on Thursday.

Gahlot also announced that the NCT of Delhi is ready tenders for 1,000 cluster electric buses and hoped that with this process being conclusive, the National Capital will witness electric mobility by 2018 and would also be able to complete process for obtaining another such lot of buses for DTC in subsequent years as currently the adjustment for creating parking facility for such buses in DTC depots are being prospected.

“The Delhi government is utterly concerned to drastically curtail the menace of increasing vehicular pollution in and around Delhi and introduction of electric vehicles on Delhi roads is one of the acceptable answers and, therefore, its government is very keen that the electric mobility is ensured for Delhi masses earlier than anticipated”, concluded the Minister.

In his welcome remarks, President, PHD Chamber, Anil Khaitan felt that mass mobility through public electric transportation is welcomed as it will lead to much reduced pollution in and around NCR but it should also be ensured that all allied services are integrated timely with the new venture for its smooth and sustained operations.

Among others who were also present at the Summit comprised Rusen Kumar, Founder India CSR Network, the Co-partner of the Summit; Dr. Rana Singh, CEO, India CSR Network; Chairman, MRSS India – Raj Sharma; Chief Executive Officer, Invest Karnataka Forum – Deepak Sood; Chairman and Co-Chairman, Innovation Committee of PHD Chamber – Deepak Pahwa and – V K Mishra along with its Director, Dr. Jatinder Singh.

Following speakers talked and shared their views and expertise:

• Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India (Video Message)
• Kailash Gahlot, Hon’ble Minister of Transport, Information & Technology, Administrative Reforms, Law & Justice and Revenue, Government of NCT of Delhi
• Anil Khaitan, President, PHD Chamber
• Deepak Pahwa, Chairman, Innovation Committee, PHD Chamber
• V K Mishra, Co-Chairman, Innovation Committee, PHD Chamber
• Deepak Sood, Chief Executive Officer, Invest Karnataka Forum
• Jatinder Singh, Director, PHD Chamber
• Rusen Kumar, Managing Director, India CSR Network
• Shailendra N. Jaiswal, ED (E&R), Railway Board
• Kamal Soi, Member, National Road Safety Council Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Govt. of India
• Girish Shirodkar, Partner, PwC& (PwC Strategy)
• Raj Sharma, Chairman, MRSS India
• Bharat Salhotra, VP – Sales & Business Development, Asia Pacific Region, Alsto
• Gursharan Singh, CMD, RACL Geartech Ltd.
• Sukanta Dey, Director, Sdela Telecom Pvt. Ltd.
• Rushen Chahal, Founder, HRIMAN Motors LLP
• Srikant Panigrahi, Member of PM Council on National Strategic Knowledge Mission on Climate Change
• Daanish Varma, Executive Vice President, Sustainable Investment Banking, YES Bank
• N K Singhal, Director & CEO, Semco India Pvt. Ltd.
• Suhas Joshi, Business Unit Head –Mobility, Exicom Tele-Systems Ltd.
• Ankit Singhvi, Founder & CEO, NN4 Energy
• Ashok Kumar Prusty, Executive Vice President, Bry-Air (Asia) Pvt. Ltd.

International Esteemed Speakers:

• Jean-Marc Fenet, Minister Counsellor & Head of the Regional Economic Department ‘India & South Asia’, Embassy of France in India
• Arpit Soni, California Air Resource Board, USA
• Rana Singh, CEO, India CSR Network