Yogi announces green mobility drive: Electric service to link every city and village
Lucknow, June 12: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the country a vision of green mobility and sustainable development. In this connection, the Uttar Pradesh government will connect every city and village with petrol-diesel free green mobility electric service in the coming time.
Emphasizing on providing better, comfortable and environment friendly transport service to every person, the CM said that the fleet of the Transport Department is increasing in the state, their work should also look big.
On Friday, the Chief Minister flagged off 45 electric buses and three hydrogen buses of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, operating from Noida, Greater Noida, and the YEIDA area to Jewar Airport via video conferencing from Lucknow. He also inaugurated the Noida Electric Bus Depot on this occasion.
Noida International Airport to be operational from June 15
In his address, the Chief Minister stated that global warming, climate change, and the ongoing standoff in West Asia are major challenges. Due to these challenges, the world is facing air pollution, excessive rainfall, drought, and hailstorms. Humanity is paying the price for the wars imposed on the world. To realize the Prime Minister’s vision, India’s largest airport (Noida International Airport) will begin operations on June 15th. Keeping in mind the convenience of passengers and citizens, the three authorities (Noida, Greater Noida, and YEIDA) have launched this service through the Transport Corporation, as part of the country’s largest IT and electronics hub and for smooth air service. This is also an important step towards achieving the net zero target.
Noida, Greater Noida, and YEIDA have emerged as major industrial hubs
Chief Minister stated that Noida, Greater Noida, and the Yamuna Authority have emerged as major hubs of IT-electronics, data centers, startups, semiconductors, and other industrial activities. Along with attracting major global companies, environmentally friendly transportation is the need of the hour. Metro is also operating in some areas, but the operation of electric buses is going to prove to be a milestone in terms of last-mile connectivity. By June 15th, the three authorities will begin operating 110 electric buses. According to demand, this number will be gradually increased to 500 buses through the three authorities.
Change is visible in the new Uttar Pradesh of New India
Yogi Adityanath explained the difference between Uttar Pradesh before and after 2017. He said that transformation is visible in the new Uttar Pradesh of New India, and that this transformation has been achieved in nine years by the double-engine government. Before 2017, citizens faced a crisis of identity in an environment of broken roads, missing electricity, insecurity, anarchy, and chaos. At that time, talk of investment in Uttar Pradesh was a pipe dream. Uttar Pradesh after 2017 is known for world-class road and air connectivity. Uttar Pradesh boasts a 400,000-kilometer road network, including highways and expressways. Interstate connectivity is the best. Nine years ago, Uttar Pradesh, known for its poor roads, has now established itself as the Expressway State.
Chief Minister said that during the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela in 2019, the government announced the Ganga Expressway in the cabinet. Travelers on the country’s longest Ganga Expressway, between Meerut and Prayagraj, are amazed that this is the same Uttar Pradesh where once the difference between a road and a pothole was unrecognizable. Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, Gorakhpur Link, Delhi-Meerut 12-lane expressway, and the soon-to-be-inaugurated Lucknow-Kanpur expressway have become the new identity of the new Uttar Pradesh.
Referring to Uttar Pradesh’s improved air connectivity, the Chief Minister said that the airport in Prayagraj was completed in 11 months. The airport in Jewar has become the country’s largest. Lord Shri Ram arrived in Ayodhya in the Treta Yuga on a Pushpak Viman, but after that, the people of Ayodhya never received air service. Ayodhya remained neglected for thousands of years and remained disrespected even after independence. Today, an airport dedicated to Maharishi Valmiki operates there. Uttar Pradesh has five international airports, including Lucknow, Ayodhya, Kashi, Kushinagar, and Noida. Noida Airport is poised to establish itself as a passenger and cargo-MRO hub.
More than 700 electric buses are operating in 17 municipal corporations
Yogi said that out of 20 cities in the country, seven cities in Uttar Pradesh have metro services. More than 700 electric buses are operating in 17 municipal corporations. The government is launching this facility in Noida today. Previously, electric buses had to be imported, but now Tata Motors and the Ashok Leyland Hinduja Group have established two electric bus manufacturing plants each in Lucknow to provide this facility.
Three hydrogen buses will also be operational at YEIDA
He said that starting today, three more hydrogen buses will be operational at the Yamuna Authority. These buses have been provided to YEIDA by NTPC. Hydrogen will be produced using sewer water, not ground or surface water. Green hydrogen mobility has become an innovative concept. These buses will also operate near Jewar Airport. They will play a major role in reducing air pollution and protecting children, the elderly, and the sick from the toxic environment.
A government committed to the net zero goal
Chief Minister said that the state government has launched the Uttar Pradesh Clean Air Management Project (UP CAMP) with World Bank support to achieve the net zero target, with a total investment of ₹2,741 crore. Nine years ago, halogen bulbs were used in urban areas, requiring significant energy consumption and attracting insects, resulting in a foul odor. In 2017, the government installed more than 1.5 million LED streetlights, resulting in energy savings and reduced carbon emissions. The Chief Minister also spoke about prioritizing unemployed youth in the operation of transportation services in rural areas.
Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh, and Minister of State Jaswant Singh Saini were present at the event.
