Synopsis
Karnataka's Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao urges the Transport Minister to invest in electric vehicles to prevent Bengaluru from facing the same pollution issues as Delhi-NCR. He emphasizes the need for immediate action and the promotion of public transport in the city.Key Takeaways
- Dinesh Gundu Rao advocates for electric vehicles to combat pollution.
- Minister Rao warns against Bengaluru becoming like Delhi-NCR.
- He suggests banning traditional fuel vehicles in the city.
- Promoting public transport and electric vehicle adoption is essential.
- Statistics show a rising number of vehicles in Bengaluru.
Bengaluru, Feb 4 (NationPress) Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday urged his colleague, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, to invest exclusively in electric vehicles (EVs) to avert Bengaluru facing pollution levels akin to those in major cities of North India.
In a correspondence highlighting this concern, Minister Rao stated, “We must act promptly to prevent Bengaluru from becoming as infamous as Delhi-NCR for its pollution.”
He noted that emissions from conventional fuel vehicles pose a global issue, with well-established detrimental impacts on public health.
In light of this, Minister Rao advocated for only permitting electric autos, cabs, taxis, goods carriers, and solid waste collection vehicles to operate in Bengaluru.
Furthermore, he underscored the necessity of acquiring solely electric buses for urban transport.
“This reflects the position of the Health Department, and in this regard, I implore you to make the requisite decision,” he remarked.
Bengaluru, being a metropolitan area, grapples with significant pollution due to the overwhelming number of vehicles on its streets. The dense population exacerbates the issue, rendering residents more susceptible to air pollution.
Moreover, the city's geographical features and climatic conditions add complexity to this challenge, as noted by Minister Rao.
“Our generation bears the responsibility of mitigating air pollution to lessen environmental harm, and the government must lead this initiative.”
“Promoting public transport is vital. Alongside this, enhancing the adoption of electric vehicles is crucial. When developing transport infrastructure policies, transitioning from traditional fuels is not merely an option but an urgent necessity,” he emphasized.
According to official data, as of November 2024, the total count of private two-wheelers and cars exceeded 1.05 crore, with the overall vehicle tally on the city’s roads surpassing 1.20 crore.
Between January and October 2024, 1.25 lakh new private cars were registered in Bengaluru.
As of September 2024, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation had a fleet of 6,340 vehicles, which included electric buses.
