As a part of the efforts undertaken by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, the Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD), in collaboration with Environmental Planning & Coordination Organisation (EPCO) and Vasudha Foundation India organised a workshop on ‘Advancing Madhya Pradesh’s Electric Vehicle Policy through Collaborative Approach’. During the workshop, Narayankumar Sreekumar, Associate Director, Electric Mobility Shakti, moderated a session ‘Promoting the Development and Utilisation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh’, wherein the panellists discussed challenges faced for EVCI deployment as well as the opportunities that lie ahead with accelerated deployment of EVCI within the stat
On August 8, 2023, the Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD), Government of Madhya Pradesh, in collaboration with the Environmental Planning and Coordination Organization (EPCO) and Vasudha Foundation, organised a day-long stakeholder consultation workshop titled ‘Advancing Madhya Pradesh’s Electric Vehicle Policy through Collaborative Approach’ to brainstorm over initiatives undertaken across the globe and take valuable feedback from peers and experts to prepare the ground for rapid EV uptake. The workshop was designed to provide a platform for open dialogue and knowledge-sharing, where participants exchanged ideas, discussed challenges and opportunities, and explored innovative approaches to enhance the existing State policy due to revision in October 2023.
The Inaugural Session was graced by the presence of dignitaries from the Government of Madhya Pradesh including Shri Mukhesh Tatwal, Mayor of Ujjain; Shri Neeraj Mandloi, Principal Secretary, UDHD; and Shri Bharat Yadav, the Commissioner of UDHD, Government of Madhya Pradesh.
Shri Bharat Yadav kicked off the event through his welcome address wherein he presented the current scenario of electric vehicles in the State, a way forward for a more comprehensive new policy, and highlighted the importance of collaboration between all stakeholders in achieving the above. Through the Featured Remarks, Shri Neeraj Mandloi discussed the key issues with the existing EV policy, highlighted the key thematic areas for UDHD, the implementing body of the EV policy in the state, and provided a snapshot of the vision for the future EV policy. During his address, he highlighted points on policy implementation and collaboration, focus on promotion and public awareness, creation of a conducive manufacturing environment, promoting public transport and its electrification, infrastructure, and government support, as well as vision and achievements. Shri Mukhesh Tatwal delivered the Keynote Address wherein he praised the efforts of the state in promoting EVs and wished that the upcoming policy would become an archetype for the entire nation. He highlighted some of the initiatives undertaken specifically for Ujjain and hoped that it could develop into a model EV city for the rest of the State.
Setting a milestone in Madhya Pradesh’s EV journey, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)was signed and exchanged between the Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD), Government of Madhya Pradesh and Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) for the provision of an ‘EV-as-a-service’ model to electrify the government vehicle fleet in the presence of Chief Guests and other dignitaries.
As a part of the stakeholder consultations, four thematic areas were determined to structure the discussions towards gathering inputs to revamp Madhya Pradesh’s State EV Policy.
- The first panel discussion was focused on ‘Promoting the Adoption and Growth of Electric 2, 3, and 4 Wheelers in Madhya Pradesh’. Moderated by Mr. Srinivas Krishnaswamy (CEO, Vasudha Foundation), the session witnessed different points raised by the diverse panel. The main focus areas of discussion evolved around initiatives targeted at promoting EV adoption, overcoming perception barriers, strategies for achieving targets, EV-as-a-service, and awareness among consumers.
- The second panel discussion was focused on ‘Promoting the Adoption and Growth of Electric Buses and Trucks in Madhya Pradesh’. Moderated by Mr Jaideep Saraswat (Senior Manager, Vasudha Foundation), the session witnessed different points raised by the diverse panel. The focus areas of discussion evolved around initiatives targeted at promoting electric buses and trucks, challenges and opportunities for EVs in the commercial segment, as well as infrastructure and standardisation.
- The third panel discussion was focused on ‘Promoting the Development and Utilization of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh’. Moderated by Narayankumar Sreekumar, Associate Director, Shakti, the session witnessed different points raised by the diverse panel. The focus areas of discussion evolved around EVCI development challenges, simplification and support for charging business, as well as the cost and viability of charging infrastructure.
- The fourth panel discussion was focused on ‘Empowering the EV Manufacturing Industry in Madhya Pradesh: Exploring Incentives, Infrastructure, and Workforce Development’. Moderated by Mr Jaideep Saraswat, the session witnessed different points raised by the diverse panel. The focus areas of discussion evolved around workforce development and skill enhancement, regulatory ease and infrastructure, financing and capital access, and policy support.
From the panel discussions, various recommendations and action points emerged that aimed to address the spectrum of challenges faced in the EV adoption journey in the state. The recommendations included improving the availability and accessibility of charging facilities across the state, guidelines to streamline and standardize the development of the charging infrastructure, and adopting a balanced approach that encourages EVCI development while maintaining the viability of CPOs, among others. The stakeholders expressed their consent to develop a holistic approach that integrates skill development, regulatory ease, quality infrastructure, financing support, and sector-specific incentives to bolster the growth of the EV ecosystem in Madhya Pradesh.
The event was concluded with a Vote of Thanks from Smt. Ruchika Chauhan (IAS), Additional Commissioner, UDHD, wherein she highlighted the significance of the event’s panel discussions, underscoring their role in generating valuable insights and recommendations that will inform the reformulation of policy.