‘Only EVs will he registered after 2029’

EVs would not only help protect the environment but also reduce dependence on petroleum imports from 40 countries. 73 per cent of the electricity is currently coal-based. RTC currently operates 1,050 electric buses and was set to acquire another 2,200 under the 'PM-eBus Sewa' (PM-eDrive) scheme

Metro India News | Hyderabad

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Sunday stated that their government was working towards registering only electric vehicles in the country after 2029. He inaugurated a Keto Motors EV bus alongside Telangana RTC MD Nagi Reddy at the IAS Officers' Club in Begumpet of Hyderabad.

Speaking on the occasion, Kishan Reddy remarked that the electric mobility would play a pivotal role in the goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047. He noted that the  EVs would not only help protect the environment but also reduce dependence on petroleum imports from 40 countries.

He revealed that while 73 percent of the electricity is currently coal-based, renewable energy would be promoted in the future. As part of this initiative, he announced plans for underground coal gasification and surface coal gasification projects in Andhra Pradesh worth Rs 1 lakh crore as well as investments of Rs 3,600 crore in the critical minerals sector to reduce reliance on China.

Speaking on the occasion, Telangana RTC MD Nagi Reddy stated that the RTC currently operates 1,050 electric buses and was set to acquire another 2,200 under the 'PM-eBus Sewa' (PM-eDrive) scheme. "We are utilizing 500 buses for inter-city operations. The number of diesel and petrol vehicles will decrease significantly over the next five years. The RTC is also formulating plans to ensure last-mile connectivity," Nagi Reddy said.