Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh (UP) in India, is set to embark on an ambitious plan to reduce pollution and transition to electric vehicles (EVs). The city’s electric mobility plan (CEMP) has been developed and is ready for implementation, with the goal of curbing pollution and promoting a green transition in Lucknow.
In a bid to tackle pollution levels, the state government has decided to formulate CEMP for a total of 17 cities within UP that are governed by municipal corporations. Lucknow is the first city to kickstart this initiative, and in the next phase, other cities like Kanpur, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Moradabad, and Varanasi could also be included.
As the designated EV lighthouse city, Lucknow, together with UP government, NITI Aayog, and the Asian Development Bank, has set a deadline of 2030 to implement the CEMP. According to a report, the transition to EVs in Lucknow will require an expenditure of approximately Rs 2,716 crore ($370 million) by 2030. However, the benefits are projected to amount to a staggering Rs 13,210 crore ($1.8 billion) due to increased energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.
The report states that Lucknow’s population is growing at an annual rate of 2.6% and is currently close to 3.85 million people. The city presently has around 2.5 million vehicles, with car ownership having increased 2.5 times between 2011 and 2022. Approximately 600,000 private and commercial four-wheelers are registered with the transport department, indicating that 155 out of every 1,000 individuals in Lucknow own a four-wheeler.
The CEMP emphasizes the importance of promoting the use of EVs in various sectors. It urges the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) to encourage the adoption of EVs within government departments, for municipal solid waste collection, corporate employee transportation, personal use of two-wheelers, and urban freight.
Out of the city’s total fleet of 260 city buses, 140 are already powered by batteries and are deployed on the busiest routes. As part of the initiative, the state government plans to procure 300 electric buses, with 125 of them being provided to the local municipal corporation to replace old buses.
Amrit Abhijat, the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department, has directed all municipal corporations to work on creating an ecosystem that promotes the usage of electric vehicles. LMC has already begun working on their plan and will receive the necessary support.
The implementation of the CEMP in Lucknow demonstrates the government’s commitment to sustainable transportation and combatting pollution. By transitioning to EVs, the city aims to improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions, and promote energy efficiency. This initiative aligns with global efforts to address climate change and create more sustainable urban environments.
With the setting of a concrete deadline and the allocation of resources, it is expected that Lucknow will make significant progress in its transition to electric mobility. As more cities within UP adopt similar plans, the state and the country as a whole can move closer to achieving a greener and more sustainable future.
