New Delhi, June 17 (UNI) From the bustling streets of Guntur in Andhra Pradesh to the busy neighborhoods of Chennai and the clean corridors of Indore, electric vehicles (EVs) are reshaping how cities handle waste as India races towards its ambitious goal of Net Carbon Zero by 2070.
These zero-emission vehicles promoted under the Central flagship Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM), reduce carbon emissions during waste collection with their cutting-edge technology, thus paving the way for much-needed urban sustainability amidst climate change threat.
Take the case of Guntur. Over 200 electric autos now cruise through the city, collecting waste from every household with the precision of a well-oiled machine. No longer reliant on noisy, polluting diesel trucks, these eco-friendly vehicles are a model of efficiency, covering 159.46 square kilometers of the city and reducing over 21,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over the next decade, an official from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) shared the details.
Talking about the initiatives being taken amidst India’s vision of Net Carbon Zero by 2070 as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the official pointed out that the shift is more than just environmental—it’s also economic, lowering maintenance costs, creating jobs, and boosting service reliability.
Similarly, down South India, Chennai has rolled out a fleet of 5,478 battery-operated E-rickshaws, each one working tirelessly to reduce the city’s carbon footprint. With these silent, efficient vehicles covering 24,621 streets and serving over 2.1 million households, the city is slashing daily carbon emissions by 41 tonnes, or 15,160 tonnes annually.
But the impact goes beyond just reducing pollution. These E-rickshaws promote waste segregation, educate the public through audio campaigns, and create employment for thousands of people, further weaving sustainability into the fabric of the community, said the official.
In Indore, one of India’s cleanest cities, a fleet of 100 electric vehicles is Indore is setting a new benchmark for sustainable waste management. “These vehicles are reducing carbon emissions by nearly 25,000 tonnes annually, while solar-powered charging stations are ensuring that the fleet runs on green energy. It has real-time GPS tracking too ensuring accountability,” said the official.
