Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari launched Ashok Leyland’s Electric Double Decker Bus named Switch EiV 22 in Mumbai today.

According to Ashok Leyland, Switch EiV 22 is the country’s first electric double decker air-conditioned bus, which has been designed, developed and manufactured in India.

The company informs that Switch EiV 22 is equipped with the latest technology, ultra-modern design, highest safety and best-in-class comfort features.

Launching the electric bus, Gadkari said, "We are trying to build a low carbon footprint and high passenger density integrated Electric Vehicle (EV) mobility ecosystem… the Government's vision and policies aim to encourage higher adoption of electric vehicles."

Sharing his vision for the Delhi-Mumbai Express Highway, the Minister said: “My plan is to connect Nariman Point to Delhi. 70% of work has already been completed.”

Asking the automobile companies to rise to the occasion, he added, “Let us plan luxury electric buses that can travel from Mumbai to Delhi in just 12 hours.”

Gadkari said that electricity as an automobile fuel is highly cost-effective, when compared to other fuels like diesel. “Import of crude oil is a big challenge for the Government. Use of solar power has reduced the cost of electricity to a large extent.”

Pitching for electricity as an alternative fuel, the Minister said 35% of pollution in the country is due to diesel and petrol.

“It is time for India to start using alternative fuels like electricity, ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, bio-CNG, bio-LNG and green hydrogen for the automobile sector,” he pointed out.