Distinguished Co-Chair,
In India, the transport sector is large and diverse and caters to the needs of over 1.2 billion people. In the last decade alone, the vehicular population has doubled from 80 million to 160 million. It is also a sector in need of rapid up-scaling and improvements for continued economic growth and to eradication of poverty.
Several initiatives taken in recent years and in particular under the new government aim to enhance the coverage and quality of transport infrastructure while at the same time reduce their overall environmental impact.
We have taken a decision to rapidly expand the railway network, increase speed of trains and modernize railway stations. At the same time, there is an attempt to harness solar energy by utilizing roof top spaces of stations, railway buildings and land, use of bio-diesel up to 5% of total diesel fuel consumption, increasing bio-toilets in large numbers in trains. A number of cities in India are investing in metro rail systems which will reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
An ambitious programme of investment in the development of dedicated freight corridors on the major transportation routes has been launched in order to enhance the modal share of goods that are carried by the comparatively more energy efficient railways, rather than roads.
Investment is planned for the construction of over 8500 km National Highways and State Roads during the current financial year.
To address the environmental dimension of transport sector, the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH), which is one amongst the eight National Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, has as its objective the promotion of a modal shift to public transport while using bio-diesel, hydrogen and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as alternate fuels.
Stringent vehicular emission norms, introduced since year 2000, have helped in reducing pollution while also increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We will further upgrade these norms.
The recently introduced Corporate Fuel Average Savings standard is yet another initiative which is expected to yield potential savings of over 20 million tonnes of fuel by 2025.
Besides large scale conversion from petrol/diesel vehicles to CNG in the major cities of India Government, we have also introduced commercial manufacture of battery operated vehicles in India to promote low/no carbon emitting vehicles.
A recent initiative is the announcement for building 100 Smart Cities to make urban life comfortable by improving living standards through smart governance, efficient health care services and education, power and water supply etc.
In India, the transport sector is large and diverse and caters to the needs of over 1.2 billion people. In the last decade alone, the vehicular population has doubled from 80 million to 160 million. It is also a sector in need of rapid up-scaling and improvements for continued economic growth and to eradication of poverty.
Several initiatives taken in recent years and in particular under the new government aim to enhance the coverage and quality of transport infrastructure while at the same time reduce their overall environmental impact.
We have taken a decision to rapidly expand the railway network, increase speed of trains and modernize railway stations. At the same time, there is an attempt to harness solar energy by utilizing roof top spaces of stations, railway buildings and land, use of bio-diesel up to 5% of total diesel fuel consumption, increasing bio-toilets in large numbers in trains. A number of cities in India are investing in metro rail systems which will reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
An ambitious programme of investment in the development of dedicated freight corridors on the major transportation routes has been launched in order to enhance the modal share of goods that are carried by the comparatively more energy efficient railways, rather than roads.
Investment is planned for the construction of over 8500 km National Highways and State Roads during the current financial year.
To address the environmental dimension of transport sector, the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH), which is one amongst the eight National Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, has as its objective the promotion of a modal shift to public transport while using bio-diesel, hydrogen and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as alternate fuels.
Stringent vehicular emission norms, introduced since year 2000, have helped in reducing pollution while also increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We will further upgrade these norms.
The recently introduced Corporate Fuel Average Savings standard is yet another initiative which is expected to yield potential savings of over 20 million tonnes of fuel by 2025.
Besides large scale conversion from petrol/diesel vehicles to CNG in the major cities of India Government, we have also introduced commercial manufacture of battery operated vehicles in India to promote low/no carbon emitting vehicles.
A recent initiative is the announcement for building 100 Smart Cities to make urban life comfortable by improving living standards through smart governance, efficient health care services and education, power and water supply etc.
