Report on India’s Priority Corridors for Zero-Emission Trucking

Prelims: General issues on Environment| Sustainable Development | Current events of national and international importance.

Why in News?

Recently, Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India released a report on India’s Priority Corridors for Zero-Emission Trucking.

• Report – It is the result of a rigorous, data-driven assessment designed to support India's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and economic goals.
• Developed with the support of - Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET) - IIT Madras, Rocky Mountain Institute, and pManifold as knowledge partners.
• Objectives – To guide future investments in charging infrastructure, public-private partnerships, and regulatory support mechanisms.
• Selection of ZETs corridors – The report identifies the top 10 high-impact corridors most suited for early ZET deployment, laying the groundwork for a dedicated national ZET infrastructure network.
• They were identified through a 3-phase process by a quantitative and qualitative assessment using parameters such as
  • Toll traffic data and mapping of supply/demand centres
  • Stakeholder consultations
  • Detailed field research
• It also considered factors such as high freight traffic, industrial activity, availability of ancillary services, grid infrastructure readiness, corridor length relative to battery range, and strategic stakeholder inputs.
• Significance – It will serve as a strategic guide for policymakers and industry actors with comprehensive insight into the three-part corridor identification process.
• By strategically targeting these corridors, India can accelerate its transition to a zero-emission freight sector while boosting competitiveness and resilience.
• It can also serve as a reference for the PM E-DRIVE scheme.

PM E-DRIVE scheme was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Heavy Industries to promote the adoption of zero-emission transport (ZET) solutions.

Reference

PIB| Release of Report on India’s Priority Corridors for ZETs

Related News – PM E-DRIVE Scheme