Telangana Affairs
Mega EV shift helps state lower its carbon footprint
With environment conscious Telanganaites increasingly shifting gears to adopt green mobility, the number of electric vehicles (EVs) in the states is on the rise. And nowhere is this rapid shift more visible than in the states IT hub and capital Hyderabad.
As per data provided by theTelanganatransport department, as many as 68,872 EVs or battery-operated vehicles were sold in the state between February 2, 2021, to May 31, 2023.
Of these, 50,825 EVs were sold in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) districts Hyderabad, Medchal,RangaReddy and Sangareddy — and the rest were sold in the non-GHMC districts. As of March 31, 2023, Telangana had over 1.54 crore registered vehicles, as per the Telangana transport department website.
A recent CBRE report said, Telangana, which already has two wheeler and e-bus manufacturing units as well as EV battery manufacturing, currently accounts for 7% of total EV manufacturing investment of $28 billion announced in the country in the 2020-H12023 period. Players such as Olectra, BILITI, PureEV, ETO, among others are already manufacturing EVs in the state.
More investments are set to pour in with the Telangana government already announcing plans to set up the Telangana Mobility Valley (TMV) in and around Hyderabad with an EV research and manufacturing cluster.
National and International Affairs
Indias 1st International Cruise Vessel MV Empress Flagged Off
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal has flagged off the maiden International Cruise Vessel MV Empress, Indias first international cruise vessel from Chennai to Sri Lanka in Chennai. This marks the beginning of the international cruise tourism terminal at Chennai, built at a cost of Rs 17.21 crores, heralding a new age of cruise tourism and maritime trade in the country.
The launch of the MV Empress is a major boost for cruise tourism in India. The country has a long coastline and a rich history and culture, which make it an attractive destination for cruise passengers. The MV Empress is expected to attract tourists from India and abroad, and to help boost the local economy