Page 18 - Breathing Cleaner Air - Ten Scalable Solutions for Indian Cities
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Clean Air Mission for India - Ten Solutions 14

Encourage Fleet Modernization: The Ministry of modal share of non-motorized options or, if already
Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, depleted, shift from motorized to non-motorized
is coming up with a voluntary fleet modernization options should be explored. Support infrastructure
mechanism supported by financial incentives in the for non-motorised travel should be augmented. To
form of discounts from the manufacturers and lower start with, a Tier-II city like Varanasi can be developed
excise duties. Gradually, the programme should be as a model cycling city similar to Amsterdam. In the
strengthened through the mandatory scrapping next 5 years, 100 smaller cities should be developed
of very old vehicles. Specific purpose grants could to ‘model cycling towns’ through PPP modes.
be used to motivate state transport companies Setting up low-emission zones in Delhi and other
and city bus operators to modernize their fleets. similar cities by restricting private vehicle entry in
Retrofitting options can be explored for ‘not so old’ highly polluted zones. This needs to be supported
vehicles, which can be fitted with tail-pipe treatment by clean public transportation, preferably based on
technologies. There is a need for a research and electric vehicles.
development programme for low-cost, robust, easily
maintained tail-pipe filters, and other treatment Residential Sector
technologies.
4. Provide cleaner fuels (LPG, Electricity) and biomass
Increase distribution of electric and hybrid vehicles: stoves with an efficiency of 50% or more and with
This should be carried out through necessary a forced draft fan for those who cannot afford LPG.
financial measures and infrastructural support. The There is a an urgent need to rapidly expand the access
procurement of electric vehicles (EVs) should be to clean fuels (such as LPG; Electricity) to the households
mandatory for vehicles for government use and reliant on solid fuels. LPG penetration can be enhanced
certain public facilities. Research and development through an aggressive marketing strategy wherein
activities should be enhanced in the areas of battery differently sized LPG bottles should be made available
cell technologies, electric vehicle power train system to rural households. An LPG subsidy with direct
integration, electric motors, and power electronics. transfer schemes should be made available to all rural
Availability of citywide support infrastructure for customers, with an additional subsidy made available
electric vehicles should be ensured. to the lowest expenditure classes in rural areas.

Vehicle ownership and usage controls: Strategies like For those who cannot afford LPG in the near term,
congestion pricing, escalation of taxes and insurances, market access should be increased to biomass/
higher costs of parking, and implementing restrictions biogas stoves that are compliant with emission rates
on certain areas and times need to be employed to recommended by the World Health Organization
reduce private vehicle usage. A congestion pricing (WHO, 2014).Advanced gasification and improved
scheme could be employed in big cities like Delhi cook stoves should be made available as an
to discourage private vehicle use. Enforcement
can begin with manual processes, which can be
later supported by electronic systems. Revenues
generated should be used for enhancement of public
transport. These measures should eventually lead to a
shift towards greater usage of public transportation.

Strengthening public transport (both bus and rail-
based): The public transport system in Indian cities
needs to streamline. Efforts should be made to cater
to all income classes by provision of safe, economic,
and reliable public transport services. For instance,
Delhi and Lucknow can be developed as model cities
depicting integration of public transportation options
based on the PPP model, and later the efforts can
be scaled up. There is a need to either preserve the
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