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The <keyword id="20163832" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="society-of-indian-automobile" source="keywords">Society of Indian Automobile</keyword> Manufacturers (<keyword id="108827" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="siam" source="Orion">SIAM</keyword>) and big auto players have hailed the Cabinet decision of PM e-DRIVE schemes aimed at promoting electric mobility across the country. The Rs 10,900 crore scheme will support 2,479,000 electric 2-wheelers, 316,000 electric 3-wheelers and 14,028 electric buses, along with 88,500 <keyword id="186291" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ev" source="Orion">EV</keyword> charging sites. Shailesh Chandra, President of SIAM and Managing Director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd &amp; Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd, expressed strong support for the government's forward-thinking initiative. Chandra said, "This forward-thinking initiative reflects the Government's unwavering support for <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword>'s transition to electric mobility, fostering innovation and investment within the sector. We believe this scheme will not only enhance the growth of the EV ecosystem but also strengthen India's leadership in the global movement towards environmental sustainability." Dr Anish Shah, Group CEO &amp; MD, Mahindra Group also commended government's efforts, specifically highlighting the comprehensive nature of the PM e-DRIVE scheme. Shah said, "We applause the government for launching the PM e-drive scheme. With continued focused support on 2Ws, 3Ws, e-buses and thoughtful addition of e-ambulances, the scheme will drive higher EV penetration in the country." M&amp;M noted that schemes like <keyword id="21028" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fame" source="Orion">FAME</keyword> and <keyword id="48070" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="emps" source="Orion">EMPS</keyword> have already driven penetration of electric three-wheelers in India. "Investments laid out for fast charging infrastructure for all segments will help in increasing consumer confidence for faster adoption of EVs. FAME and EMPS have helped in 20 per cent e-3W penetration in the country. With PM e-drive, we foresee India becoming the first country to achieve 100 per cent electrification in this segment by 2030", he added. The Union Cabinet, on Wednesday, cleared the 'PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM e-DRIVE) Scheme,' with a total outlay of Rs 10,900 crore over two years. It includes Rs 3,679 crore in subsidies and demand incentives for e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-ambulances, e-trucks, and other emerging electric vehicles. It is expected to support the deployment of 24.79 lakh e-2Ws, 3.16 lakh e-3Ws, and 14,028 e-buses, providing a significant push to India's EV ecosystem. A critical aspect of the scheme is the introduction of e-vouchers for EV buyers. At the time of purchase, an Aadhaar-authenticated e-voucher will be generated, which will enable buyers to avail of demand incentives. Additionally, the scheme allocates Rs 500 crore for the deployment of e-ambulances, marking a new initiative to integrate electric vehicles into essential public services. Another Rs 4,391 crore has been earmarked for the procurement of 14,028 e-buses, with a demand aggregation process led by CESL in nine major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Intercity and interstate e-buses will also be supported in consultation with states. Furthermore, Rs 500 crore has been set aside to incentivize the adoption of e-trucks, a critical move given that trucks are one of the largest contributors to air pollution. The scheme encourages those with a scrapping certificate from <keyword id="19897457" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-road-transport" source="keywords">Ministry of Road Transport</keyword> and Highways-approved (MoRTH) vehicle scrapping centres to participate in this transition. With an allocation of Rs 2,000 crore, the scheme will support the installation of 22,100 fast chargers for four-wheelers, 1,800 fast chargers for e-buses, and 48,400 fast chargers for two- and three-wheelers. These chargers will be installed in cities with high EV penetration and along selected highways, making long-distance EV travel more viable.

Automobile industry hails PM e-DRIVE scheme to promote EVs

Union Minister of <keyword id="19994242" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="road-transport" source="keywords">Road Transport</keyword> and Highways, <keyword id="19897455" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nitin-Gadkari" source="keywords">Nitin Gadkari</keyword>, asked states to pitch for reducing GST on flex-engine cars. Gadkari stated that the government needs the support of the states to promote <keyword id="23007559" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flex-engine-vehicles" source="keywords">flex engine vehicles</keyword> by reducing GST up to 12 per cent on <keyword id="23007560" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flex-engines" source="keywords">flex engines</keyword>, cars, and scooters. "We will try to convince all the finance ministers. Yesterday I had the opportunity to discuss with the finance minister of Maharashtra and I told him, you please go to the meeting and put up this proposal for reducing GST up to 12 per cent on flex engines, cars, and scooters," he said. Addressing IFGE's India Bio-Energy and Tech Expo in New Delhi, the Union Minister added that factors such as economic viability, proven technology, availability of raw material, and marketability of the finished product are in favour of the development of these engines. Gadkari said that developing flex-fuel engines is the target of the government, and we have the "proven technology" to make it possible. "I feel that now the flex fuel is very, very important. Already the managing director of Tata, Suzuki and Toyota, they have decided to start flex engine car in the country," the Union Minister stated. Gadkari added, "So the flex engine is the ultimate target. As far as the market is concerned, there is huge potential. Everywhere, as far as a comparison between fossil fuel and <keyword id="20228373" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="biofuel" source="keywords">biofuel</keyword>, in the Indian scenario, the cost of biofuel is less and there is no pollution. So that is the important reason that it is going to be advantageous to the common man also," the Minister stated. Going further, Gadkari said that vehicle companies such as Bajaj, TVS, and Hero, along with two or three other companies, have their models ready with flex engines to run on 100 per cent <keyword id="20069651" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ethanol" source="keywords">ethanol</keyword>. He said, "Many of the generator manufacturers are working to change the diesel generators into ethanol. One of the companies is also they are taking an interest in converting 5 lakhs of telecommunication towers there and 250 crore litre consumption of diesel. Now they are also changing into ethanol." He further stated that the raw material is already available in India, there is a need to think about ways to increase the production of biomass, which can be useful for making biofuel. (ANI) "I feel that this is the time for the country that we have got very good potential. We need to create positivity and confidence in the minds of the stakeholders. Now things are open. The market is going to increase. Availability of ethanol, again, I am very much thankful to Hardeep Puri ji, our Minister group is there. We already have a clear policy now," Gadkari said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/realme-13-plus-5g-vs-iqoo-z9s-pro-battle-of-the-under-25000-smartphones/slidelist/112924868.cms">Realme 13 Plus 5G vs iQOO Z9s Pro – Battle of the under ₹25,000 smartphones</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/baazar-style-retail-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/112920678.cms">Baazar Style Retail IPO – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-cars-launching-in-india-in-september-2024/slidelist/112917920.cms">Upcoming cars launching in India in September 2024</a>

Gadkari asked states to pitch for reducing GST on flex engine vehicles

New Delhi, <keyword id="2518729" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="union-road-transport" source="Orion">Union Road Transport</keyword> and Highways Minister <keyword id="26680" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="nitin-gadkari" source="Orion">Nitin Gadkari</keyword> on Thursday said dealers of automobiles should also open <keyword id="14986732" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vehicle-scrapping-facilities" source="Orion">vehicle scrapping facilities</keyword>. Addressing the fifth <keyword id="11938231" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="auto-retail-conclave" source="Orion">Auto Retail Conclave</keyword>, Gadkari said the government is encouraging a circular economy, and accordingly the government will give permission to dealers to start vehicle scrapping facilities. He also noted that India is encouraging use of alternate fuel and biofuel and pointed out that the government is working to make India the largest manufacturer of green hydrogen. The minister pointed out that India is the fastest growing major economy in the world and <keyword id="128764" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="auto-dealers" source="Orion">auto dealers</keyword> will play an important role in making India a USD 5 trillion economy. India is the fourth largest manufacturer of passenger vehicles and the sixth largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles, he said. Gadkari said his dream is to make India the top automobile hub in the world In August 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy and had said that it will help phase out unfit and polluting vehicles and also promote a circular economy.

Auto dealers should also open vehicle scrapping facilities: Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister <keyword id="19897455" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nitin-Gadkari" source="keywords">Nitin Gadkari</keyword> has said that <keyword id="22181136" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="highway-agencies" source="keywords">highway agencies</keyword> should not charge tolls if <keyword id="20028505" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="roads" source="keywords">roads</keyword> are not in good condition. Gadkari was speaking at a global workshop on satellite-based tolling, set to be implemented over 5,000 km this financial year. "If you don't provide good quality service, you should not charge <keyword id="20071846" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="toll" source="keywords">toll</keyword>... We are in a hurry to start tolling to collect <keyword id="20085256" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="user-fee" source="keywords">user fee</keyword>s and protect our interest," the road transport and highways minister said. "You should collect the user fee where you provide the best <keyword id="22190322" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="quality-road" source="keywords">quality road</keyword>. If you collect toll on roads with potholes, mud, then there will be a backlash from people," he added. State-owned <keyword id="20198815" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NHAI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="NHAI" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="NHAI">NHAI</keyword> plans to implement (Global Navigation Satellite System) <keyword id="21980580" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GNSS-based-Electronic-Toll-Collection" source="keywords">GNSS-based Electronic Toll Collection</keyword> (ETC) system within the existing <keyword id="22190323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="FASTag-ecosystem" source="keywords">FASTag ecosystem</keyword>, initially using a hybrid model where both (Radio Frequency Identification) RFID-based ETC and GNSS-based ETC will operate simultaneously. NHAI proposes to roll this out on commercial vehicles initially then private vehicles, considering scalability and privacy concerns. The highway authority has also recommended driver behaviour analysis and back-end data analysis for fraud detection. "With GNSS, the payment modes might be converted from prepaid to postpaid. Banks and financial institutions might be able to provide faster credits based on travel plans," NHAI has recommended.

Highway agencies should not charge toll if roads are not in good condition: Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari

New Delhi, The <keyword id="6404450" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-road-transport-and-highways" source="Orion">Ministry of Road Transport and Highways</keyword> (MoRTH) is confident of achieving the highways construction target of 13,814 kilometres for the current fiscal, its secretary <keyword id="20078656" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="anurag-jain" source="keywords">Anurag Jain</keyword> said on Friday. Addressing a press conference, <keyword id="19950697" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jain" source="keywords">Jain</keyword> further said the total length of national highways in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> increased 60 per cent to 1,46,145 km till December 2023, from 91,287 km in 2014, since the <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> government came into power. "The pace of highway construction in 2023-24 so far has been better than last year, and we are confident of achieving the 13,814-km highway construction target during the current fiscal," he said. Up to December 31, 2023, the ministry has built 6,217 km of national highway, higher than last year's 5,774 km for the same period. According to him, the government is planning to award 10,000 km of national highway projects in 2023-24. Jain also said that the government has asked companies to prepare detailed project reports (DPR) for unawarded identified projects to increase the pace of awarding in 2023-24. He said the total length of four-lanes and above national highways (NHs) increased by 2.5 times to 46,179 km in December 2023 from 18,387 km in 2014. While the total length of high-speed corridors in 2014 was 353 km, which increased to 3,913 km in 2023, the total length of less than 2-lane national highways decreased from 30 per cent (2014) to 10 per cent of national highway network in 2023. Jain also said the road ministry has constructed 6,217 km of national highways up to December in 2023-24. He noted that expenditure on the ministry's highways construction expenditure is expected to increase by 9.4 times to Rs 3.17 lakh crore in 2023 from 2014. Jain said under the <keyword id="20078657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vehicle-scrapping-policy" source="keywords">Vehicle Scrapping Policy</keyword>, 44 registered vehicle scrapping facilities (RVSFs) are operational in India, while concession and motor vehicle tax was announced by 19 states/ Union Territories. As many as 49,770 vehicles were scrapped till date under the Vehicle Scrapping Policy, he added. Jain said state-owned NHAI has collected Rs 18,450 crore as toll till December in the current financial year.

Confident of achieving 13,814-km highway construction target this fiscal: Road secy

<keyword id="195740" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="hero-electric" source="Orion">Hero Electric</keyword> led the EV two-wheeler segment, selling 8,952 vehicles for the entire month, followed by <keyword id="6077703" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="okinawa-autotech" source="Orion">Okinawa Autotech</keyword> at 8,094 vehicles, the latest VAHAN data has revealed. Ather Energy sold just 1,279 EV two-wheelers for the full month of July from selling 3,829 vehicles in June -- a massive drop in numbers -- followed by <keyword id="4393078" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ola-electric" source="Orion">Ola Electric</keyword> which sold 3,852 vehicles from 5,891 vehicles in June. Ampere Vehicles Pvt Ltd, which sold 6,542 vehicles in June, saw a minor drop at 6,312 vehicles last month. The drop in EV two-wheeler sales, according to industry experts, is due to the fear among consumers regarding the safety of EV two-wheelers in light of several battery fire and explosion incidents in the recent past. <keyword id="2518729" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="union-road-transport" source="Orion">Union Road Transport</keyword> and Highways Minister <keyword id="26680" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="nitin-gadkari" source="Orion">Nitin Gadkari</keyword> last month told Parliament that all those EV two-wheelers companies have been served show-cause notices whose vehicles caught fire owing to battery issues. The Ministry constituted a committee of experts to suggest safety standards for batteries, battery components, and related systems. Based on the information of fire incidents available, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a show-cause notice to the CEOs and MDs of the electric two-wheeler manufacturers concerned, to explain the reasons as to why the relevant sections of the <keyword id="6377804" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="motor-vehicles-act" source="Orion">Motor Vehicles Act</keyword> should not be invoked against them. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which comes under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, said this week that it issued notices to four to five EV two-wheeler makers in the light of several complaints raised by the consumers over battery explosions and fire incidents. The CCPA received several complaints from the EV two-wheeler buyers. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has also been informed. A DRDO probe had revealed defects in battery cells as well as battery design in nearly all EV fires. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/indian-currency-gains-23-paise-to-end-at-79-02-against-us-dollar/articleshow/93276845.cms">Indian currency gains 23 paise to end at 79.02 against US dollar</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/indias-second-t20i-against-west-indies-to-start-at-10pm-ist-due-to-delay-in-significant-luggage-arrival/articleshow/93276571.cms">India's second T20I against West Indies to start at 10pm IST due to delay in significant luggage arrival</a>

Hero Electric sells close to 9K EV 2-wheelers in July, tops segment

The Defence Research &amp; Development Organisation (<keyword id="6355142" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="drdo" source="Orion">DRDO</keyword>) that was tasked with investigating into EV fire incidents by the <keyword id="2518729" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="union-road-transport" source="Orion">Union Road Transport</keyword> and Highways <keyword id="48413" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ministry" source="Orion">Ministry</keyword>, has found serious defects in the batteries, including designs of the battery packs and modules. According to sources in the know of the matter, these defects occur because the electric two-wheeler manufacturers like <keyword id="6077703" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="okinawa-autotech" source="Orion">Okinawa Autotech</keyword>, Pure EV, Jitendra Electric Vehicles, <keyword id="4393078" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ola-electric" source="Orion">Ola Electric</keyword> and <keyword id="12512499" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="boom-motors" source="Orion">Boom Motors</keyword> may have used "lower-grade materials to cut costs". The Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) at the DRDO has submitted its fact-finding report to the Ministry, as first reported by Business Standard. According to the sources, the ministry has now summoned representatives of these EV manufacturers, asking them to submit an explanation on the DRDO report findings. Earlier this month, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which comes under the <keyword id="2876140" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="union-consumer-affairs-ministry" source="Orion">Union Consumer Affairs Ministry</keyword>, sent notices to Pure EV and Boom Motors after their e-scooters exploded in April. The consumer watchdog is also examining more cases of e-scooter fires and will serve similar notices to other EV makers too. Pure EV and Boom Motors along with Ola Electric, Jitendra EV, and Okinawa Autotech, recalled faulty batches after the EV fire incidents were reported. The preliminary findings from the government-constituted probe committee on EV fires have already identified issues with battery cells or design in nearly all of the electric two-wheeler fire incidents in the country. The committee was constituted in the wake of EV fires and battery blasts in e-scooters. The experts found defects in battery cells as well as battery design in nearly all EV fires. The government is now working on new quality-centric guidelines for EVs that will be unveiled soon. At least 12 electric two-wheelers have exploded till now and several EV makers have recalled the faulty batches amid the growing pressure from the government. Update: Ola Electric has issued a statement saying it has not received any communication from the government in this matter. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/how-cyrus-poonawalla-became-one-of-the-worlds-richest-billionaires/articleshow/91763784.cms">The success story of Cyrus Poonawalla: The vaccine king who is one of the world’s richest billionaires</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/instagram-rolls-out-a-new-logo-typography-and-more-in-visual-refresh/articleshow/91761902.cms">Instagram rolls out a new logo, typography and more in visual refresh</a>

DRDO examines EV fire incidents, finds serious battery defects

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The EPA issued its strictest-ever tailpipe pollution limits for vehicles sold between 2027 and 2032.</li><li>The rule is more lenient than originally proposed after the auto industry and unions expressed concerns over the tight timeline.</li></ul>President Joe Biden is giving automakers more time to ramp up sales of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hybrids-more-popular-than-evs-toyota-ford-tesla-cars-electric-2024-3">electric vehicles</a>, following pressure from the industry and labor unions concerned about a rapid transition to EVs.The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday issued the strictest limits to date on tailpipe pollution from cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans sold between 2027 and 2032. In effect, the rules could boost EVs to up to 56% of new car sales — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.coxautoinc.com/market-insights/q4-2023-ev-sales/">a big jump from 7.6% in 2023</a> — while hybrids could account for about 13% of sales, according to senior administration officials.The final rule is more relaxed than <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-proposes-strongest-ever-pollution-standards-cars-and">a draft issued last year</a> that would have spurred faster growth in EV sales this decade and estimated they'd account for 67% of new car sales by 2032. The rules also outline how automakers can sell a mix of EVs, hybrids, and cleaner gas cars to fall within the pollution caps. The changes were based on feedback from automakers and labor unions that asked for more lead time and flexibility, senior administration officials told reporters.The compromise reflects Biden's attempt to combat the climate crisis with buy-in from industry and unions, especially during an election year. Cars are the single-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Still, the United Auto Workers worries that a rapid shift to EVs will cost jobs <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uaw-strike-inexorable-math-electric-vehicles-elon-musk-tesla-ford-2023-9">because EV manufacturing requires fewer assembly parts</a>. Biden's support from UAW has been a key part of his political coalition. Meanwhile, legacy automakers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/automakers-back-to-the-drawing-board-ev-plans-2024-2">are scaling back or delaying EV investments</a> as the market grows slower than investor expectations."These adjusted EV targets — still a stretch goal — should give the market and supply chains a chance to catch up," John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said in a statement. The group represents companies that make about 97% of the new vehicles sold in the US. "It buys some time for more public charging to come online, and the industrial incentives and policies of the Inflation Reduction Act to do their thing."<h2>Pacing EV adoption</h2>The tailpipe rules land as the EV market hits some bumps in the road.US automakers sold a record 1.2 million EVs last year, but there was a slowdown in the fourth quarter, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.coxautoinc.com/market-insights/q4-2023-ev-sales/">according to Kelley Blue Book</a>. That means the market still grew, just not as fast as previous quarters. The trend prompted companies like Ford and General Motors to scale back production, citing lower-than-expected demand from drivers worried about finding charging stations.That concern has led hybrids, which have both gas and battery power, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hybrids-more-popular-than-evs-toyota-ford-tesla-cars-electric-2024-3">to gain popularity.</a>Still, analysts predict that EV sales will continue to push higher, thanks to newer models at more affordable prices and the continued build-out of charging stations. The average new car sells for around $46,000, while the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electrc-vehicle-demand-problem-affordability-expense-price-cost-2023-10#:~:text=a%20demand%20problem.-,They%20have%20an%20affordability%20problem.,costs%20over%20%2450%2C000%20on%20average.">average new EV costs closer to $50,000</a>, J.D. Power said. EV drivers also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/are-electric-vehicles-worth-it">save money on gas and maintenance</a>."The United States has a history of meeting and exceeding these targets because of the broad appeal of fuel-efficient vehicles and electric vehicles being underestimated," Albert Gore, executive director of the Zero Emissions Transportation Association, which advocates for EV makers like Tesla and Rivian, told Business Insider. "We still believe the transition will take place on a shorter timeline."<h2>Less pollution, fewer deaths</h2>Even though the EPA is delaying a sharp uptick in EV sales, the final rule is still expected to avoid the same amount of pollution over the long term, the agency said.Some 7.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions — or about four times the emissions of the entire transportation sector — would be avoided through 2055.Air pollutants like fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxide that cause smog would be drastically reduced by that date, preventing up to 2,500 premature deaths and reducing heart attacks, respiratory illnesses, and aggravated asthma, according to EPA.Research indicates <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/recessions-mortality-degrowth-economy-gdp-unemployment-environment-pollution-2024-3">that less air pollution leads to longer lives.</a> Cleaner air was responsible for more than a third of the decline in mortality during the Great Recession as fewer people drove to work and factories closed.But some climate groups criticized the delayed EV timeline because that means the transportation sector will emit more pollution in the short term, causing the planet to warm faster.Scientists have warned that countries must slash emissions in half by 2030 to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/world-hottest-year-ever-history-climate-crisis-2024-1">keep the world from warming 1.5 degrees Celsius</a> above preindustrial levels. Beyond that threshold, extreme heat, wildfires, flooding, and other disasters will likely become increasingly catastrophic for humanity.Senior administration officials said the tailpipe emissions rule, combined with other climate policies like the IRA, will help the US cut emissions in half by 2030.

Biden slows his timeline for the shift to EVs in a compromise with unions concerned about jobs       

The <keyword id="499463" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Ministry-of-Road-Transport-and-Highways" source="Orion">Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways</keyword> (<keyword id="375113" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="morth" source="Orion">MoRTH</keyword>) is all set to roll out a new ₹7,270 crore <keyword id="12179033" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Support-Programme" source="Orion">State Support Programme</keyword> for Strengthening <keyword id="87280" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Road-Safety" source="Orion">Road Safety</keyword> to help realise the vision of 'Zero road fatalities on Indian roads.' The centrally-sponsored six-year programme will be implemented in 14 states that are now contributing to 85 per cent of the total road fatalities in the country. While MoRTH will lend a budgetary support of Rs 3,635 crore, an amount of Rs 1,818 crore will be secured as loan each from the World Bank and the <keyword id="50190" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Asian-Development-Bank" source="Orion">Asian Development Bank</keyword>. Of the total cost, Rs 6,725 crore will be disbursed to the 14 states based on their performance while MoRTH will use Rs 545 crore for capacity building activities. The scheme will incentivise state governments to drive road safety interventions at the grassroots level with the main objective of curbing road accidents and achieving a reduction in fatalities, the MoRTH said in a concept note circulated to the target states. The target states under the scheme are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Telangana, West Bengal, Odisha, Haryana and Assam. "This is an output and outcome-driven scheme wherein the performance of the states will be assessed on 11 mandatory and three elective indicators (road safety interventions). The grants will be distributed to the states based on the Key Performance Indicators," top official sources told PTI. The preliminary project report prepared by MoRTH says the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act (2019) was brought in as an important intervention to achieve the fatality reduction target. "To leverage the strengthened law, it is necessary to have focused interventions in the related areas of road safety like road engineering, enforcement, road safety advocacy and media campaigns and efficient emergency response systems. The states need to be supported to act on result-oriented strategies. Hence the new scheme," the sources said. India reported about 1.51 lakh road deaths in 4.49 lakh accidents in the year 2019. Of the total deaths, the 14 identified states accounted for 1,27,379. The number of fatalities remained consistent over the last five years. In 2020, 1.32 lakh road deaths were recorded across the country, with the Covid-19-induced lockdown resulting in the reduction in number. The new scheme targets to reduce the fatality rate by 30 per cent by March 2027. Cyclists, two and three-wheeler riders and pedestrians have been identified as 'vulnerable road users' who comprised about 54 per cent of road traffic deaths in India. Under the new scheme, performance-based indicators have been proposed with the aim of reducing the impact of road accidents on these vulnerable users. An Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD) will be rolled out in all states by 2022-23 and applied for identifying and rectifying all black spots on state highways and major district roads. Road safety audit will be made mandatory on state highways and urban roads by the end of the scheme period. From 2022-23, MoRTH will launch a 'Challenge Round' every year to provide incentives to states on additional road safety interventions and also to promote competition among states. "The grant of Rs 7,270 crore will only meet partial fund requirement for the scheme. States are expected to make their own budgetary allocations and also implement projects in Public-Private Partnership mode," MoRTH told the states. Independent Verification Agencies will scrutinise the states' achievements, based on which the Central grant will be released. Some of the other major interventions mooted under the scheme are: Installation of speed management devices on urban roads in cities with a population of over four lakh, state highways and national highways for increased enforcement, a unique number for reporting accidents, development of dedicated lanes for two-wheelers on state highways and urban roads and identification of priority corridors. State Education Boards will be required to introduce a chapter on road safety for classes 6-9 in 2022-23 and up to class-12 the next year on. Deployment of Advance Traffic Management System, campaigns on vehicle safety and driver training, establishment of a Command and Control (Data) Centre for ambulances, establishment of automated vehicle fitness centres are some of the other initiatives planned under the scheme. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/highlights-of-prime-minister-narendra-modis-speech-at-the-unga-today/articleshow/86510462.cms">Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes his points on China, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/freshworks-ceo-girish-mathrubootham-shares-someone-said-i-will-be-nothing-but-a-rickshaw-puller/articleshow/86507840.cms">WATCH: "Someone said I am good enough to be a rickshaw puller," shares Freshworks CEO Girish Mathrubootham in a candid chat</a>

Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to roll out ₹7,270 crore support programme for 14 states

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Los Angeles voted to invest in street safety after a two-decade high in traffic deaths.</li><li>But the LA firefighters union opposed the policy, arguing it will slow emergency response times.</li></ul>Los Angeles is the car capital of America. That also means it has some of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/road-rage-traffic-deaths-car-crashes-pedestrians-los-angeles-vermont-2024-2">most dangerous roads in the country</a>. In 2023, <a target="_blank" href="https://abc7.com/south-los-angeles-teen-killed-hit-and-run-crash/14372665/#:~:text=According%20to%20statistics%20from%20the,the%20courthouse%2C%20it%20was%20postponed.">traffic fatalities</a> in the city hit a two-decade high. Of the <a target="_blank" href="https://xtown.la/2024/01/19/los-angeles-automobile-related-deaths-rise-to-337-fatalities-last-year/">337 people who were killed</a>, half were pedestrians. And traffic accidents are a leading <a target="_blank" href="https://ladotlivablestreets.org/programs/vision-zero">cause of death for kids</a> in the city.Many of the city's residents want to take action to make their streets safer. They're demanding improvements to pedestrian infrastructure, bike lanes, and mass transit.But firefighters — the very people tasked with keeping them safe — are standing in their way.In March, LA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2024-03-05/2024-california-election-los-angeles-city-measure-hla-results">voted</a> overwhelmingly for a street safety policy that will finally enforce a nearly decade-old <a target="_blank" href="https://planning.lacity.gov/odocument/523f2a95-9d72-41d7-aba5-1972f84c1d36/Mobility_Plan_2035.pdf">mobility plan</a> to make the city's streets safer for non-drivers. The Healthy Streets Los Angeles Ballot Measure will mean hundreds of miles of new bike lanes, 300 miles of improved bus lanes, and updated public transit stations.But the union that represents LA's firefighters <a target="_blank" href="https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2024-02-28/hla-street-safety-advocates-vs-firefighters-essential-california#:~:text=Why%20are%20firefighters%20opposed%20to,create%20more%20danger%20and%20chaos.">opposed</a> the policy, also known as Measure HLA, and aggressively campaigned against it. They argued that wider sidewalks, protected bike lanes, fewer driving lanes, and other street safety measures will make it harder for their trucks to navigate through traffic, elongating emergency response times. "Vehicles will not be able to pull to the right, and we're stuck behind them," a firefighter said in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a7hlsZpV7c">a video</a> opposing the campaign. The union didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.Michael Schneider, founder and CEO of Streets For All, a nonprofit that ran the campaign in favor of Measure HLA, said his group reached out to the firefighters union to talk about the policy before they came out against it but didn't hear back. He noted that LA's fire department, which isn't allowed to engage in politics, signed off on the underlying mobility plan back in 2015. A study of the plan actually found that without the policy, emergency response times would get longer as vehicle traffic increased."They're very myopic in how they view public safety," Schneider said of fire officials. "A two-decade-high pedestrian deaths is a public safety crisis, too."But this battle between fire officials and street safety advocates isn't unique to LA. Fire departments across the country have for decades opposed safer street design. But this battle is increasingly playing out across the country as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/traffic-deaths-topped-40000-last-year-nhtsa-looks-reduce-distracted-dr-rcna145818">traffic deaths skyrocket</a>.<h2>The supremacy of fire codes</h2>When private vehicles began to dominate American roads in the 1920s, transportation engineers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2023/12/20/engineers-resist-narrow-lanes-change-coming">believed that wider streets</a> were safer, as they give drivers a larger margin for error. But as American cities became more car-centric, traffic accidents skyrocketed and engineers began to understand that the opposite is true: wider roads encourage drivers to go faster, leading to far more accidents, injuries, and deaths.Studies have found that vehicles traveling more than 20 miles per hour are far more likely to kill people they hit. In fact, a pedestrian is about 70 percent more likely to die if they're hit by a vehicle going 30 mph versus 25 mph, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/unsafe-at-many-speeds">research has found</a>. Streets with driving lanes that are nine or 10 feet wide are significantly safer than those with 12-foot wide lanes, a major Johns Hopkins <a target="_blank" href="https://narrowlanes.americanhealth.jhu.edu/">study found last year</a>. "That is the opposite of the general belief and what has been the foundation for street design and lane-width guidelines," the researchers noted.These discoveries, however, aren't reflected in the fire codes that govern our streets.The vast majority of US states follow what's called the <a target="_blank" href="https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IFC2024P1">International Fire Code</a>, updated every few years by a Texas-based nonprofit called the International Code Council. For decades, the code has called for streets to have at least 20 feet of unobstructed width. With a parking lane and sidewalks, residential streets in the US tend to be <a target="_blank" href="https://streetwidths.its.ucla.edu/#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20residential,than%20in%20most%20other%20countries.">around 50 feet wide</a> — far wider than in many other countries. In Osaka, Japan, and Paris, France, for example, the typical residential street is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.planning.org/blog/9229552/the-costs-of-wide-streets-in-the-us/">less than 20 feet wide.</a>Roads that encourage speed are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-11-03/why-us-traffic-safety-fell-so-far-behind-other-countries?embedded-checkout=true">part of the reason</a> the US has far more <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/briefing/us-traffic-deaths.html">traffic deaths</a> than its peer countries. At the same time, US traffic fatalities far outnumber deaths from fires — while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/traffic-deaths-topped-40000-last-year-nhtsa-looks-reduce-distracted-dr-rcna145818">40,000 people died</a> on American roads last year, <a target="_blank" href="https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v11i2.pdf">fewer than 3,000 people die</a> annually in the US in residential fires, on average.The international fire code's name is a bit of a misnomer: it's used virtually nowhere outside the US. And it differs in key ways from fire safety regulations used by other advanced countries. American fire trucks and other firefighting equipment also tend to be much bigger and less able to navigate narrow streets than their equivalents in other countries.The fire code's dangerous results reflect a failure to understand safety holistically, experts say. "If you become overly specialized and focus only on one problem without considering at all the effect that you might be having on other problems, you can very easily do a lot of harm while trying to do good," said Patrick Siegman, a transportation planner and economist.<div type="image" title="A small Tokyo fire truck with a woman firefighter in foreground" height="853" width="1280" msid="109475862" hostid="261" sizebytes="103606"></div><h2>A growing battle</h2>Conflict between fire officials and street designers has become increasingly common. In most cases, cities and states bend to the will of their fire departments. Indeed, many in the government are unaware of how dangerous their policies are."Unless you've really gotten to know the issue, planners, even transportation engineers, often don't realize the implications of the fire code for street designs and ultimately for traffic safety," Siegman said.But in some places, road safety advocates are winning out. In Baltimore, an attempt in 2018 to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-11/fire-trucks-and-engines-are-too-big-let-s-shrink-them?embedded-checkout=true">amend the city's fire code</a> to make room for bike lanes erupted in an ugly public fight that included a firefighter assaulting a city planner. But the city's code was ultimately <a target="_blank" href="https://blog.qrfs.com/172-how-walkable-streets-are-changing-fire-code-and-safety/#:~:text=In%202018%2C%20city%20officials%20in,allowing%20for%20narrower%20street%20widths.">amended</a>.In 2013, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors <a target="_blank" href="https://sf.streetsblog.org/2013/06/19/board-of-supervisors-unanimously-passes-wieners-ped-safety-reforms">changed its interpretation</a> of the fire code so that sidewalks, pedestrian islands, and other curbs less than six inches high weren't considered an obstruction to emergency vehicles. It's allowed the city to build wider sidewalks and more protected bike lanes, among other features to boost street safety.San Francisco's fire department has also adapted to safer streets in another way by buying smaller fire trucks. The California city's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wired.com/story/sanfrancisco-smaller-firetrucks/">so-called "Vision Zero truck"</a> — a reference to the road safety policy — is a bit shorter and skinnier than its older trucks and has a smaller turning radius, which makes it far more capable of traveling down narrow, windy streets.Not to mention that fire trucks with full fire-fighting capabilities aren't necessary in most instances. Only about 5% of the 1 million calls to fire departments nationally are fire-related, <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/general-news-15e06ad3778f4ee88b67a1bdbbc97c29">according to</a> the National Fire Protection Association. Instead, firefighters largely respond to medical emergencies, which don't require trucks carrying 500 gallons of water."There are other ways to put out fires and respond to emergencies," said Andy Boenau, a transportation engineer and urbanist activist. "Do you need to send the biggest fire truck when someone's choking on a walnut?"Dan Burden, a veteran transportation planner who served as Florida's first state bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, works with and trains fire officials on road safety issues. He said fire departments can be convinced to support safer street design if they're heavily engaged by planners. "Too often, the fire administrator is brought in too late in the process," he said.Burden, whose father was a fire chief, believes they can find common ground."My dad always said, 'Dan, don't over-build for our needs, build streets for people first, and we'll figure out a way to make things happen,'" Burden said.

Los Angeles firefighters fought investments in safer streets. For decades, fire regulations have made roads deadlier.

Alarmed at the unabated EV fire incidents, the Centre has now sent show cause notices to EV manufacturers like <keyword id="4393078" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ola-electric" source="Orion">Ola Electric</keyword>, <keyword id="6077703" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="okinawa-autotech" source="Orion">Okinawa Autotech</keyword> and <keyword id="7583348" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="pure-ev" source="Orion">Pure EV</keyword>, among others, warning them why a penal action should not be taken against them for delivering faulty electric two-wheelers to the public. Reliable sources said that the EV makers have been given time till July end to respond in detail to the notices. Once the responses are in, the government will decide which penal action is to be taken, if any, against the EV makers at fault. Last month, the <keyword id="2619929" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="central-consumer-protection-authority" source="Orion">Central Consumer Protection Authority</keyword> (CCPA), which comes under the Union Consumer Affairs Ministry, sent notices to Pure EV and <keyword id="12512499" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="boom-motors" source="Orion">Boom Motors</keyword> after their e-scooters exploded in April. The Ministry of <keyword id="61316" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="road-transport" source="Orion">Road Transport</keyword> and Highways is also awaiting responses from EV makers on show cause notices sent to them. The preliminary findings from the government-constituted probe committee on EV fires also identified issues with battery cells or design in nearly all of the electric two-wheeler fire incidents in the country. The experts found defects in battery cells as well as battery design in nearly all EV fires. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (<keyword id="6355142" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="drdo" source="Orion">DRDO</keyword>), which was earlier tasked with investigating electric two-wheeler fire incidents by the Road Transport and Highways Ministry, also found serious defects in the EV two-wheeler batteries. These defects occurred because the electric two-wheeler manufacturers like Okinawa Autotech, Pure EV, Jitendra Electric Vehicles, Ola Electric and Boom Motors may have used "lower-grade materials to cut costs", the DRDO probe had revealed. The <keyword id="59330" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bureau-of-indian-standards" source="Orion">Bureau of Indian Standards</keyword> (BIS) has now issued new performance standards for lithium-ion batteries to safeguard the consumers amid the rising EV fire episodes in the country. Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari has already warned EV makers of strict action if they are found negligent. "If any company is found negligent in their processes, a heavy penalty will be imposed and a recall of all defective vehicles will also be ordered," he had tweeted. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/eknath-shinde-wants-a-breather-and-spend-time-with-families/articleshow/92666818.cms">Eknath Shinde wants a 'breather' and spend time with families</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/30-large-reservoirs-in-india-dip-to-a-decadal-low-after-erratic-rains-in-june/articleshow/92665877.cms">30 large reservoirs in India dip to a decadal low after erratic rains in June</a>

EV manufacturers Ola Electric, Okinawa under fire, Centre sends show cause notice

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Union government if a change in law is warranted on the legal question of whether a person holding a driving licence for a light motor vehicle is entitled to legally drive a <keyword id="1049502" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="transport-vehicle" source="Orion">transport vehicle</keyword> of a particular weight. Observing that these are policy issues impacting the livelihood of lakhs of people, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice <keyword id="445662" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="d-y-chandrachud" source="Orion">D Y Chandrachud</keyword> said the government needs to take a "fresh look" at the matter while asserting that it needs to be taken up at the policy level. The top court asked the Centre to wrap up the exercise within two months and apprise it about the decision taken. It said any interpretation of the law must duly take into account valid concerns of road safety and the safety of other users of public transport. The top court had earlier sought the assistance of Attorney General R Venkataramani in dealing with a legal question about whether a person holding a driving licence for a light motor vehicle is entitled to legally drive a transport vehicle of a particular weight. The constitution bench had said knowing the position of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will be necessary after it was argued that the apex court's 2017 verdict in the case of Mukund Dewangan versus Oriental Insurance Company Limited was accepted by the Centre and rules were amended to align them with the judgement. In the Mukund Dewangan case, a three-judge bench of the top court had held that transport vehicles, the gross weight of which does not exceed 7,500 kg, are not excluded from the definition of LMV. "There may be lakhs of drivers across the country who are working on the basis of Dewangan judgment. This is not a constitutional issue. It is purely a statutory issue," the bench, also comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, P S Narasimha, Pankaj Mithal and Manoj Misra, said. "This is just not the question of law but also the social impact of the law... Road safety has to be balanced with the social purpose of the law and you have to see if this causes serious hardships. We cannot decide issues of social policy in a constitution bench," it said. The apex court said once the government informs its stand to the court, the hearing in the constitution bench will be taken up thereafter. The Constitution bench is dealing with a legal question which reads: "Whether a person holding a driving licence in respect of 'light motor vehicle' could on the strength of that licence, be entitled to drive a 'transport vehicle of light motor vehicle class' having unladen weight not exceeding 7,500 kg." On July 18, the constitution bench commenced hearing as many as 76 petitions to deal with the legal question. It had then heard the arguments of senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for one of the petitioners, on alleged anomalies in the Motor Vehicle Act with regard to regimes for dealing with the grant of driving licenses for different categories of vehicles. The lead petition was filed by M/s Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co Ltd. The legal question has given rise to various disputes over payment of claims by insurance companies in accident cases involving transport vehicles being driven by those having licences to drive LMVs. The Motor Vehicle Act provides for different regimes for the granting of driving licences for different categories of vehicles. The matter was referred to the larger bench on March 8, 2022, by a three-judge bench headed by Justice U U Lalit, since retired. It was said that certain provisions of the law were not noticed by the apex court in the Mukund Dewangan judgement and "the controversy in question needs to be revisited".

Can you drive a light transport vehicle if you have an LMV licence? SC asks Centre to respond

<ul><li>The Indian government today unveiled its vehicle scrappage policy to take old, unfit and polluting vehicles off the road.</li><li>The policy offers incentives to owners of these vehicles in the form of reduced road taxes and waiver of registration charges on their subsequent vehicle purchase.</li><li>The government aims to attract investment to the tune of ₹10,000 crore and generate over 35,000 jobs in the process.</li></ul>In a virtual address during an investor summit in Gujarat, India’s Prime Minister Narendra <keyword id="6354642" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi">Modi</keyword> announced the <keyword id="3393307" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Voluntary-Vehicle-Fleet-Modernisation-Programme">Voluntary Vehicle Fleet Modernisation Programme</keyword>, or the vehicle scrappage policy. This, Modi said, will attract investment to the tune of ₹10,000 crore. The vehicle scrappage policy has been in the works since 2015. It provides incentives to owners of old, unfit and polluting vehicles to scrap them and make the roads cleaner, and reduce raw material costs for manufacturers. Union Minister for <keyword id="61316" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Road-transport">Road Transport</keyword> and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said that this policy has the potential to cut down raw material costs by 40%. This could eventually lead to a reduction in prices of vehicles for customers. The scheme will be kickstarted with government vehicles that are 15 years and older, by April 2022. It will be expanded to unfit heavy commercial vehicles from 2023, and personal vehicles older than 20 years will be covered from June 2024. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Buyers can expect discounts, other incentives" comment="subhead" text="Buyers can expect discounts, other incentives">Buyers can expect discounts, other incentives</cmsannotation> Automobile customers can also expect some rationalisation in the prices of vehicles, but the extent of benefits that the manufacturers pass on to buyers eventually is not known yet. “The association of automobile manufacturers is also going to offer some discount on the purchase of new vehicles and the certificate of deposit for the scrapped vehicles,” said Giridhar Aramane, secretary in the <keyword id="168381" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-road-transport">Ministry of Road Transport</keyword> and Highways. In addition to this, Aramane added that buyers will benefit from a 25% reduction in road taxes, and a complete waiver of registration fees when purchasing a new vehicle next time. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Vehicle scrappage policy to benefit various stakeholders" comment="subhead" text="Vehicle scrappage policy to benefit various stakeholders">Vehicle scrappage policy to benefit various stakeholders</cmsannotation> The government believes that this policy will help generate employment for 35,000 people at vehicle fitness centres and scrapyards. A Grant Thornton report dated August 11 said that this policy will result in benefits for several sectors. "Be it generating employment, reducing pollution, or accelerating demands for electric vehicles, the policy proves to be a win-win situation for the auto industry and various other stakeholders," the report said. The report added that the metal recycling business will be one of the major gainers. "One of the key opportunities that will emerge from the vehicle scrappage policy will be for the metal recycling business. It will also to an extent reduce the cost of production. Steel is a crucial component for automobile manufacturers, and its price has been growing up to almost 30% in the last six months," said Saket Mehra, Partner and Automotive Sector Leader, Grant Thornton Bharat. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Scrapping industry unorganised in India" comment="subhead" text="Scrapping industry unorganised in India">Scrapping industry unorganised in India</cmsannotation> Stating that the scrapping industry in India is unorganised and uses manual labour to dismantle machinery, Aramane said that this leads to serious economic loss. Official estimates <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/vehicle-scrapping-policy-to-offer-about-5-rebate-on-new-cars-nitin-gadkari/articleshow/81569841.cms">suggest</a> that there are over 10 million motor vehicles in the country, which are either older than 15 years or don’t have fitness certificates. “We want to modernise this process through a modern automated scrapping centre where vehicles will be deregistered before scrapping with the help of regional transport offices (RTOs), component by component, which can generate better value. This will reduce raw material costs, increase the availability of raw materials such as rare earths and other metals,” Aramane added. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ola-scooter-launch-date-set-for-august-15/articleshow/84997219.cms">Ola Scooter launch date set for August 15 – here’s everything you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/simple-energy-launching-one-electric-scooter-on-august-15-check-out-booking-price-battery-specification/articleshow/85268668.cms">Simple One electric scooter pre-bookings begin August 15 – check out the booking price, battery specs and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/simple-energy-new-electric-scooter-promises-240km-range-on-a-70-minute-charge/articleshow/84164967.cms">This new electric scooter promises 240KM range on a 70-minute charge, could be priced under ₹1,20,000</a>

You Searched For "union road transport" and got 13 results

Automobile industry hails PM e-DRIVE scheme to promote EVs

ANI

Gadkari asked states to pitch for reducing GST on flex engine vehicles

ANI

Auto dealers should also open vehicle scrapping facilities: Nitin Gadkari

PTI

Highway agencies should not charge toll if roads are not in good condition: Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari

PTI

Confident of achieving 13,814-km highway construction target this fiscal: Road secy

PTI

Hero Electric sells close to 9K EV 2-wheelers in July, tops segment

IANS

DRDO examines EV fire incidents, finds serious battery defects

IANS

Biden slows his timeline for the shift to EVs in a compromise with unions concerned about jobs

Catherine Boudreau

Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to roll out ₹7,270 crore support programme for 14 states

PTI

Los Angeles firefighters fought investments in safer streets. For decades, fire regulations have made roads deadlier.

Eliza Relman

EV manufacturers Ola Electric, Okinawa under fire, Centre sends show cause notice

IANS

Can you drive a light transport vehicle if you have an LMV licence? SC asks Centre to respond

PTI

Indian government announces vehicle scrappage policy, aims to generate 35,000 jobs and attract ₹10,000 crore investment

Rounak Jain

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