For its action plan to promote use of Electric Vehicles, Pune makes it to list of ‘50 champion cities’ across the world
The top 15 cities will win $ 1 million each as financial assistance to implement their breakthrough ideas and to spread the ideas to other cities around the world.
Tesla Inc has written to Indian ministries seeking a big reduction in import duties on electric vehicles (EVs), a move it says will boost demand and generate revenue for the government, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. (File photo)
The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) strategy for early adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) by creating a readiness plan and establishing an EV fund has propelled Pune city to a spot among ‘50 champion cities’ representing the boldest urban innovations of the past year.
The city has advanced to the final stage of the 2021 Global Mayors Challenge, a worldwide competition that encourages and spreads most promising ideas by cities. The top 15 cities will win $ 1 million each as financial assistance to implement their breakthrough ideas and to spread the ideas to other cities around the world.
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The announcement was made by Bloomberg Philanthropies on Tuesday for the competition that takes place once in three years. “Among Indian cities, Pune has some of the highest rates of vehicle ownership, and vehicles contribute nearly 25 per cent of particulate pollution in the city. To increase early adoption of electric vehicles, Pune proposes to prepare a city EV-readiness plan and establish an EV fund that incentivises use. The idea stands out because Pune is seen as a city at the vanguard of India’s national smart cities push and a hub of innovation. Success in Pune could allow solutions to scale across India and achieve broad impact,” read the statement.
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This year’s challenge focuses on elevating the most important innovations generated in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 631 cities from 99 countries submitted their promising ideas for the competition. The selected 50 cities are from 29 countries across six continents. Apart from Pune, the only other Indian city to have made it to the top 50 of the competition is Rourkela. The finalists were chosen based on the four criteria of vision, potential for impact, feasibility and transferability.
“The PMC had submitted its plan on building the foundation for an all-electric-vehicle future. We will be preparing an action plan for increasing use of EVs in the city, with guidelines and instructions on its usage. The city EV fund would use the recommendations from the city EV readiness plan to design a pool of fiscal incentives for vehicles, charging stations, and potentially other related items,” said Mayor Murlidhar Mohol.
He said the PMC has set an objective of enabling wide-scale use of EVs in the city. “I am confident the strategy adopted by PMC will be implemented in other cities also. This will help sell more electric vehicles and increase their usage in the city, reducing vehicular pollution. It will also help achieve aims such as cleaner air and more health benefits for citizens,” said Mohol.
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The PMC plans to conduct a needs assessment and hold workshops to determine the focus areas of the plan, such as identification of vehicle segments and operational guidelines for easing registration process of EV, putting in place charging infrastructure, and conducting awareness campaigns.
The Mayor said Pune is one of the most liveable cities in the country and is a hub of education, information technology and the automobile industry, but its rapid urbanisation has increased vehicular pollution, so the civic body is working on promoting use of EVs in the public transport system.
Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in:
Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps.
Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra.
Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development.
Investigative and Policy Impact:
National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism.
Additional Interests
Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues.
Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More
