Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), in association with World Resources Institute India (WRI India), is organising a two-day international conference on Sustainable and Innovative Finance for Green and Healthy Transportation – INSIGHT 2022 – from September 15-16 in New Delhi.
INSIGHT 2022 is an outcome of NITI Aayog's mandate to CESL to implement a National Electric Bus Programme for 50,000 electric buses in the country. Previously, CESL executed the largest ever e-bus tender - The Grand Challenge for deploying 5,450 buses in five cities.
According to a press release from CESL, the two-day event will host international and national delegates where the discussions will focus on the financial needs of implementing public mobility projects at scale – including debt and equity considerations, the role of subsidies, if any, the role of Government, electricity needs, charging infrastructure and the use of green power for a green transport system for the country.
The conference will be inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road, Transport and Highways. Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Kailash Gahlot, Delhi Cabinet Minister for Transport & Revenue and Amitabh Kant, Sherpa for India’s Presidency at G20, will also be present at the inaugural session.
The release added that some of the most prominent dignitaries/speakers addressing the two-day conference include Erik Solheim, Former head of UNEP, Former Minister of International Development and Minister of Environment, Norway and Mohamed Hegazy, Road Sector Co-Lead, UNFCCC Climate Champion, Egypt.
Mahua Acharya, MD & CEO, CESL, said, “Connectivity and electric mobility is an important theme of the Government’s development model, and CESL is spearheading this goal by leading the initiative of green public mobility in India.”
“There is an important role for all to play here – financial institutions, the Government, lenders, OEMs and regulators. All need to come together to help build this ecosystem for the country,” she added.
To accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and ease the range anxiety of end users, CESL is also working with the Government to launch a one-stop solution to provide information on the location and availability of vehicle charging stations, Acharya noted.
Through INSIGHT 2022, CESL seeks to provide the space for debate and discussion by creating this convening of the best minds in mobility solutions in India.
Dr OP Agarwal, CEO, WRI India, stated that the large-scale transition to e-buses has achieved price parity – as clearly demonstrated by the Grand Challenge.
INSIGHT 2022 aims to explore such pathways to provide a seamless e-bus experience for public bus agencies in the country, he added.
Also Watch
Special Address: Mahua Acharya, Managing Director & CEO, CESL, Govt of India.