CARGOCONNECT-APRIL2025 - Flipbook - Page 19
GREEN LOGISTICS : COVER STORY
RAMPRAVEEN
SWAMINATHAN
Managing Director and CEO,
Mahindra Logistics
Policy Push and Investments
India’s ambitious policy roadmap is matched by hefty
昀椀scal allocations to support infrastructure projects.
CRISIL reports that between 2024 and 2030, India plans
to spend a record `143 lakh crore on infrastructure
development, including `36.6 lakh crore explicitly
designated for green projects. This marks a 昀椀ve-fold
increase from prior green infrastructure budgets and
signi昀椀es the government’s commitment to environmental
sustainability.
Among these initiatives, the PM E-DRIVE scheme,
launched in October 2024, represents a cornerstone of
India’s green transition. With an outlay of `10,900 crore,
the programme emphasises a balanced development of
EV categories, allocating `4,391 crore to procure electric
buses for city transport and `500 crore for electrifying
the logistics 昀氀eet with e-trucks. In addition, `2,000
crore has been reserved exclusively for expanding
the national public EV charging network. At the state
level, programmes such as Delhi’s EV policy incentivise
adoption through waived road taxes, subsidies, and
direct reimbursement of charging costs.
Rampraveen Swaminathan, Managing Director
and CEO of Mahindra Logistics, emphasises the
critical role of collaboration in expanding India’s
green transport infrastructure. “The adoption of EVs
is accelerating, supported by government incentives
and growing environmental consciousness. However,
the opportunity to signi昀椀cantly expand the charging
network—particularly in rural areas—remains vast.
By integrating renewable energy-powered charging
stations through partnerships among DISCOMs,
Charge Point Operators, LSPs, and transporters, India
can strengthen its EV ecosystem and decarbonise
logistics operations.”
Swaminathan underscores Mahindra Logistics’
e昀昀orts in leading this transformation. “We are proud
The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
market, projected to reach
US$347.85 million by 2029,
offers immense promise for medium and heavy
commercial vehicles. Scaling hydrogen adoption will require addressing infrastructure gaps,
enhancing production efficiency, and prioritising
safety. By fostering public-private partnerships and
incentivising innovation, India can build a sustainable
ecosystem for both electric and hydrogen-powered
mobility, setting a global benchmark for low-carbon
transportation solutions.
AYESHA KATGARA
Head of Corporate Strategy,
Jeena & Company
The PM GatiShakti initiative
has played a pivotal role in
advancing India’s transition to green transport by
enhancing multimodal connectivity and optimising
logistics efficiency. By laying down 8,891 km of roads
and 27,000 km of railway lines, the initiative has
streamlined operations, reduced transit times, and
curbed emissions associated with inefficient freight
movement. These developments have empowered
industry players to adopt sustainable practices,
providing enhanced value while fostering continuous
transformation.
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