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COVER STORY PLUS

Srivastava was of the opinion that the millennials and the tech-savvy
an integration of not only the roads generation. And posed a question to
but also the power for charging was Prasad: “Aggregators have disrupted “By 2040, the
essential. “This energy should come businesses in a big way but who number of EVs will
from clean source/energy, only then takes the responsibility if something be more, and even
the battery should be charged”, he untoward happens?” the production
said. “And this requires integration of Said Prasad: “Indian cities are
three-or four ministries”. growing. That leads to migration will be more than
Adding to Srivastava’s observations, but despite the rise in population, the conventional
Malik said, “The Niti Aayog is already the roads remain the same. So, the vehicles in India.
being tasked for working on a challenge is: how are you going to The countries which
roadmap for EVs. We are looking at it move such a large population because are doing better are
because it will give us a lot of comfort you cannot build so many flyovers?
with the recommendations of the I am very passionate about public far ahead, and the
Aayog, which would be a third-party transport but are they integrated?” government cannot
recommendation. Otherwise, we are He added, “It is a fashion to talk afford to be a mute
looked upon as a vested interest party. about the vehicle but as a country we spectator.”
In a recently held conference, Minister need to talk about public transport.
Nitin Gadkari was very tough in his Having said that, the aggregators – Anil Srivastava
stance. He said that, he wanted to play an important role when it comes
reduce the dependence of the country to last mile connectivity. They reduce
on imported oil and EVs have to be put carbon footprints and have many Bengaluru” was over simplifying the
in place”. other advantages. However, the problem. He asked Wali if he, from the
Krishna Prasad, a strong advocate of biggest challenge is the convenience perspective of ‘Operation Technology’,
Public Transport, was of the opinion that of the passengers or commuters. So, believed that the solutions could
though EVs had great advantages, they if the aggregators provide us that work from the Indian point of view
posed challenges too. “40% of the EV convenience, we need to push or on a retrofit mode? He also wanted
cost will come from the battery. There are promote the aggregators healthily. to know if there was a baseline that
discussions about solutions like having the There are certain security and safety needed to happen before we thought
entire chassis itself as the battery but, at issues, we need to squarely look into of such solutions.
present, the smart solution appears to be those issues and sort them. We need Wali was of the view that there was
swapping and stacking of the batteries not overtly worry about them because ample opportunity for implementing
on a longer run”. we can easily find the solution. and deploying technology in integrated
Aggregators changing the Few reasons that are bothering the and intelligent transportation system.
characteristics of transport in India aggregators are the permits. The nation “Today we cannot say with confidence
was a highly discussed topic. Rao will address the issue very soon”. that these many cities have invested in
said that the trend of bike-sharing Rao averred that saying that “what technological solutions in the context
was becoming very popular amongst worked in Brazil could also work in of integrated and intelligent transport

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