Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who participated in the ‘bhoomi pujan’ of Ashok Leyland’s electric vehicle factory in Lucknow on Tuesday, emphasised on the significance of expediting production.
“Prakash ji and Ashok ji of Hinduja Group have just handed me the keys of the double-decker electric bus. I urge them to commence production at the earliest, and not just hand over the keys. The markets of not only Uttar Pradesh, but the entire North India, eagerly await your vehicles,” said Yogi, who was earlier presented with a symbolic key of the double-decker electric bus and a memento by representatives of the Hinduja Group.
He inspected the electric buses within the facility to familiarise himself with their features. Yogi also engaged in consultations with key stakeholders and officials of the Hinduja Group.
Stating that the first electric vehicle plant of Uttar Pradesh is going to be established through Ashoka Leyland, Yogi said, “I extend my congratulations to the Hinduja Group and Ashoka Leyland for spearheading this initiative. In Uttar Pradesh, we have come up with investor-friendly policies. Similarly, investors will also have to make their investments public-friendly.”
Highlighting the transformative potential, he noted, “We possess a fleet of one lakh school buses, all ripe for replacement by their electric counterparts, provided we take proactive steps in this direction.”
Furthermore, Yogi pointed out the extensive network of over 1.05 lakh revenue villages and more than two lakh ‘majras’ in Uttar Pradesh, envisioning electric buses as an affordable and accessible means of connecting rural areas with cities.
The CM encouraged both the Hinduja Group and the state government to collaborate on this initiative and emphasised on the potential to engage youth and enhance public transportation services.
Yogi also stressed on the need to ensure connectivity to every village and facilitate transportation between villages and cities within Uttar Pradesh. He proposed utilisation of small trucks to transport village products to cities, thereby creating opportunities for economic growth.
Highlighting the interconnectedness of Uttar Pradesh with neighbouring states, the CM said, “Uttar Pradesh does not mean just UP, it means Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Nepal too. All these states are connected with UP in one way or another and all these states will take advantage of this facility.”
Yogi highlighted the state government’s Electric Vehicle Policy, noting the launch of investment projects worth Rs 10.24 lakh crore by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Ashoka Leyland has started its work under this policy. I express confidence that the market of Uttar Pradesh is waiting for you. How quickly and rapidly you can proceed with your work will depend on you,” Yogi said.
Elaborating on the policy, he mentioned the provision of incentives of up to Rs 20 lakh for every e-bus and emphasised on its unique appeal to both investors and buyers. He hailed Uttar Pradesh’s Electric Vehicle Policy as one of the best, asserting its benefits for all stakeholders and its alignment with the prime minister’s goal of achieving net zero emissions.
Stressing on the importance of this policy as a positive step towards sustainability and economic progress, the chief minister called for swift action to capitalise on its potential.
Hinduja Group India president Ashok Hinduja, Prakash Hinduja, Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, and government officials were present on the occasion.
