Gauba urges states to focus on electrifying public transport and expand charging networks

At a NITI Aayog event launching the latest India Electric Mobility Index, Vice-Chairman Rajiv Gauba stressed that states should concentrate on electrifying public transport in selected cities and ensure charging stations are both reliable and evenly spread. He warned that rising car ownership could deepen India's dependence on imported crude oil, which currently accounts for nearly 89 percent of consumption. The index ranked Delhi, Chandigarh and Maharashtra as the only top performers in transport electrification, while many other jurisdictions lag behind.

Disparities were highlighted, such as Haryana's high charging readiness but low vehicle adoption, and Uttar Pradesh's opposite pattern. Gauba also pointed to research and innovation gaps, especially in hilly and Northeastern regions, and called for a shift from policy announcements to measurable implementation.