Kerala has always been at the forefront of developing and promoting sustainable environmentally-friendly modes of transport, shares Shri Antony Raju, Minister for Road Transport, Motor Vehicles, Water Transport, Government of Kerala in an exclusive interview with Nisha Samant of Elets News Network (ENN). Edited excerpts:
How is Kerala planning to promote sustainable and eco- friendly modes of transportation, such as electric vehicles and public transit?
The state of Kerala is the first in the country to declare an e-Vehicle policy. Kerala already has a policy of promoting environmentally-friendly fuels. Kerala has always been at the forefront of developing and promoting sustainable environmentally-friendly modes of transport. We are committed to supporting electric vehicles. The electric vehicles registered in Kerala have been given subsidies on vehicle tax. In order to encourage electric auto rickshaws, the government is providing subsidies of up to Rs. 30,000/- based on income to buy e-auto rickshaws and also subsidies for the conversion of 3-wheeler autos to e-autos, ensuring green mobility. In order to create a green mobility environment, many promotional programs have been initiated. Kerala has also installed charging points at electric posts.
The Kerala government is giving special consideration to vehicles that run on fuels like CNG and LNG, and I am happy to say that India’s second hydrogen-powered vehicle is registered in Kerala as part of the scheme for piloting hydrogen fuel vehicles in the state.
What specific challenges is Kerala currently facing in terms of transportation, and how is the government addressing them?
Kerala exhibits the characteristics of a single metropolitan city. The state, as a whole, is developing as a fully- fledged city from the south to the north region, and almost all areas of Kerala have acquired the facilities of towns. However, there are still some problems in providing public transport facilities to the interior rural areas of Kerala. To overcome this, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has started a village transport system called “Gramavandi” (village vehicle) with the help of local self-government bodies. It is envisaged that the cost of fuel will be borne by the local self-government bodies. Gramavandi, which was launched as a new experiment in Kerala, has been embraced wholeheartedly by the people. Similarly, KSRTC has started urban area City Circular services, using non-polluting electric buses. Smaller city circular buses are used for service on inner roads that are not yet accessible to public transport in the city. Its special feature is that it can reach various places in urban areas for just ten rupees. The city circular bus has also been welcomed by everyone as it provides affordable travel convenience to city dwellers.
Can you elaborate on the state’s plan for improving public transportation and making it more accessible to all citizens?
The government’s policy is to develop the public transport system with the help of both the public and private sectors. In this era of air pollution and carbon emissions, the whole world has initiated efforts to promote the use of public transport in order to reduce the use of private vehicles. Similarly, the government’s aim is to increase the overall convenience of the public by providing various transportation facilities. In order to enhance public water transport in the state, the construction of the National Waterway from South to North of Kerala is in its final stages, and the railway transport system has also been developed. Being a comparatively small state, Kerala now boasts four international airports. The construction of a new airport near Sabarimala has also been initiated to facilitate travel to the world-famous pilgrimage center. Thus, Kerala is on the path of extensive transportation facilities, including road, rail, air, and waterways.
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