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NEW MOBILITY

Compact Electrified Cities in India

educing transport systems to Investing in creating
greenhouse gas make walking, cycling, compact electrified cities will
emissions from and public transport use not only ensure India meets
transport is as easy as car use. its climate commitments, but
crucial to meet result in massive economic
RIndia’s climate 3. Electrification (Only)– savings and reduced travel
Cities pursue EVs intensely
action commitments and and almost exclusively costs for residents of Indian
limit future global warming cities. Over the next 30 years,
to 1.5°C. This is especially as the strategy for the Electrification + Shift
urgent amidst recurring decarbonising. approach could generate over
hazardous air quality crises 4. Electrification + Shift– `400 lakh crore in cumulative
in Delhi, Mumbai, and other Combination of high savings, including at least `50
major Indian cities. electrification and lakh crore for national, state,
high shift. Extensive and city governments. This
A new report by ITDP and
the University of California, electrification of public funding could be redirected
Davis—the Compact Cities and private vehicles and to invest in critical sectors like
a shift in city designs to
Electrified: India roadmap— prioritise non-motorised public health and education.
shows that developing transportation. Additionally, combining EVs
compact and dense cities can and compact cities would
shift most trips to less polluting The research shows that decrease projected energy
modes like walking, cycling, neither strategy on its own is demand by almost one-
and public transport while capable of reducing emissions third, freeing up electricity
simultaneously facilitating to a level compatible with for consumers or for other
a rapid electrification of all limiting future global energy-intensive aspects
vehicle modes. Adopting warming to 1.5°C. India will of development. Creating
these combined strategies require both strategies— compact electrified cities
could potentially save the Electrification + Shift—to would also facilitate economic
inclusion, reduce air pollution,
Indian government over meet its Paris Agreement
`150 lakh crore in the next commitments and its goal of and minimise road fatalities.
30 years and result in lower achieving Net Zero by 2070. The report provides a
travel costs, and a reduction Why does India need country-specific roadmap
in projected energy demand Compact Electrified Cities? for India, estimating the
by almost one-third. Recent air quality reports have quantities and costs of
The study outlines four identified India as the source infrastructure needed for the
transition and the potential
possible scenarios for the next of approximately 59% of the impacts over the next 30
30 years of urban passenger world’s increased pollution
transport and resulting since 2013. Transport is the years. The report highlights
seven critical goals which
emissions in India: most rapidly growing source
of emissions in the country, require strong action from
1. Business as Usual– A accounting for roughly a governments at all levels—
continuation along India’s tenth of the overall emissions. including ensuring every
current trajectory toward Road transport makes up a citizen gets a fair share of road
a car-oriented society whopping 90 percent of this, space; improving walking,
powered by fossil fuels. cycling, and public transport;
with the number of vehicles
2. Mode Shift (Only)– Cities on the road increasing about and accelerating the adoption
embrace compact land- four-fold since the early of green mobility.
use policy and redesign 2000s. Source: ITDP India

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