CM Yogi Adityanath participates in the ‘bhoomi pujan’ of Ashok Leyland’s electric vehicle factory

Lucknow, February 20, 2024- Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in the ‘bhoomi pujan’ ceremony of Ashok Leyland’s electric vehicle factory in Lucknow on Tuesday. During the event, the Chief Minister emphasized the significance of expediting production, stating, “Prakash ji and Ashok ji of Hinduja Group have just handed me the keys of the double-decker electric bus. I urge them to commence production at the earliest, not just hand over the keys. The markets of not only Uttar Pradesh, but the entire North India, eagerly await your vehicles.”

Earlier, CM Yogi was presented with the symbolic key of a double-decker electric bus and a memento by representatives of the Hinduja Group. He conducted an inspection of the electric buses within the facility, familiarizing himself with their features. Hinduja Group officials provided detailed explanations of the e-vehicles’ functionalities. CM Yogi also engaged in consultations with key stakeholders and officials of the Hinduja Group.

Stating that the first electric vehicle plant of Uttar Pradesh is going to be established through Ashoka Leyland, Yogi said, “I extend my congratulations to the Hinduja Group and Ashoka Leyland for spearheading this initiative. In Uttar Pradesh, we have come up with investor-friendly policies. Similarly, investors will also have to make their investments public-friendly.”

Highlighting the transformative potential, he noted, “We possess a fleet of one lakh school buses, all ripe for replacement with electric counterparts, provided we take proactive steps in this direction.”

Furthermore, he pointed out the extensive network of over 1.05 lakh revenue villages and more than two lakh ‘majras’ in Uttar Pradesh, envisioning electric buses as an affordable and accessible means of connecting rural areas with cities. CM Yogi encouraged both the Hinduja Group and the state government to collaborate on this initiative, emphasizing the potential to engage youth and enhance public transportation services.

CM Yogi emphasized the imperative of ensuring connectivity to every village and facilitating transportation between villages and cities within Uttar Pradesh. He proposed the utilization of small trucks to transport village products to cities, thereby creating opportunities for economic growth.

Highlighting the interconnectedness of Uttar Pradesh with neighboring states, the CM said, “UP does not mean UP, UP means Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Nepal too; all are connected with UP in some form or another. All these states will take advantage of this facility.”

CM Yogi highlighted the state government’s Electric Vehicle Policy, noting the launch of investment projects worth Rs 10 lakh 24 thousand crore by the Prime Minister. “Today, Ashoka Leyland has started its work under this. I express confidence that the market of Uttar Pradesh is waiting for you. How quickly and rapidly you can proceed with your work will depend on you.”

He elaborated on the policy, mentioning the provision of incentives of up to Rs 20 lakh for every electric bus, emphasizing its unique appeal to both investors and buyers. He hailed Uttar Pradesh’s electric vehicle policy as one of the nation’s best, asserting its benefits for all stakeholders and its alignment with the Prime Minister’s goal of achieving Net Zero emissions.

CM Yogi stressed the importance of this policy as a positive step towards sustainability and economic progress, urging swift action to capitalize on its potential.

On this occasion, Hinduja Group India President Ashok Hinduja, Prakash Hinduja, Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, MSME Minister Rakesh Sachan, Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh, MLA Dr Rajeshwar Singh, Vikas Gupta, Industrial Development Commissioner Manoj Kumar Singh, UPSIDA CEO Mayur Maheshwari and officials of Hinduja Group were present.