SAYS CEEW EXPERTS
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The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) — one of Asia’s leading climate think tanks — on Wednesday hosted a roundtable here on “How can Indian cities achieve sustainable and inclusive mobility through shared transport like buses and autos" under CEEW's workshop series 'Future of Our Cities'.
CEEW researchers highlighted that the high dependency on private vehicles underscores the urgent need for robust public transportation and clean mobility alternatives to prevent the escalation of emissions, congestion, and energy demand. They recommended the expansion of the bus fleet, the electrification of intermediate public transport (IPTs) - autorickshaws and vikrams- and promoting gender inclusion to ensure sustainable mobility in cities.
CEEW provided technical support to the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar for this project. This initiative successfully tackled key barriers to EV adoption:High Upfront Cost: Offered a ₹1.3-1.5 lakh upfront subsidy to switch from diesel to electric three-wheelers (e-autos). Informal Lending: Facilitated access to formal bank loans, moving drivers away from predatory informal lending.Lack of Awareness: Conducted information campaigns and vehicle demonstrations to build driver confidence in e-auto performance and economic benefits.Charging Gaps: Developed a tailor-made charging infrastructure at strategic locations.
India's Electric Vehicle (EV) transition is gaining momentum, sold over 1 million EV units in 2024-25. This growth has been driven by a combination of national policies (like FAME I & II), state-level EV policies, and growing consumer confidence. The electric three-wheeler (e3W) segment, in particular, has seen the fastest growth. Punjab has a powerful local success story in Amritsar's "Rejuvenation of Auto Rickshaws in Amritsar through Holistic Intervention" (RAAHI) project.
CEEW provided technical support to the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar for this project. This initiative successfully tackled key barriers to EV adoption:High Upfront Cost: Offered a ₹1.3-1.5 lakh upfront subsidy to switch from diesel to electric three-wheelers (e-autos). Informal Lending: Facilitated access to formal bank loans, moving drivers away from predatory informal lending.Lack of Awareness: Conducted information campaigns and vehicle demonstrations to build driver confidence in e-auto performance and economic benefits.Charging Gaps: Developed a tailor-made charging infrastructure at strategic locations.
This project has already transitioned 1,200 old diesel vehicles to new electric vehicles, resulting in improved driver livelihoods and significant annual reductions in emissions. Recognising that women comprise less than 1% of India's transport workforce, the project implemented targeted solutions, including a 90% subsidy for women drivers, formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in collaboration with NULM, and dedicated support for obtaining driver's licenses. This effort has successfully brought 200 women into the e-auto ecosystem in Amritsar.
Dr Himani Jain, Fellow, CEEW, said, "CEEW’s studies show that while financial savings are clear from EV transition, adoption depends on trust, peer influence, and communication. At the same time, women are often excluded from most transport-related government policies. But Punjab's pink e-auto scheme has shown how quickly this can change with the right design. By embedding behavioural insights and gender inclusion into policy, Punjab can scale its pilots and lead India's next phase of EV action.”
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: A Key Driver of Sustainable Mobility*A strong public transport system is the cornerstone of sustainable urban mobility. India has only 47,000 buses serving its cities, with approximately 60% of them located in the country's nine megacities. This system is plagued by multiple barriers, including poor service quality, high wait times, and inadequate connectivity. So, we recommend a focused, ecosystem-based approach to create a robust system for public transport.
Therefore, to promote sustainable mobility, we suggest several key measures. First, aggressively expand the public bus fleet as a core strategy for providing a viable alternative to private vehicles. Second, leveraging the proven success of Amritsar's RAAHI project, replicate and scale IPT electrification through targeted subsidies, formal financial linkages, driver-centric awareness, and strategic charging infrastructure in cities. Third, include gender-friendly measures in state mobility policies- such as higher subsidies for women drivers, partnerships with local institutions like NULM, and better access to training and licenses. Lastly, develop supporting infrastructure, such as public charging stations, improved street lighting, cle
an public washrooms, and safe parking areas, to ensure safety and convenience for all drivers, especially women.