Electric mobility key focus area for govt: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Hyderabad: Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that electric mobility remained a focus area for the Centre and the government was committed to developing the right infrastructure and ecosystem for the promotion and adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

Vaishnaw, also the electronics, IT (Meity)and information and broadcasting ministry, said that the government was ready to promote Indian innovation and manufacturing initiatives in this area. He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for four manufacturing units at the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster at Divitipally, in Mahbubnagar district.

The ground-breaking ceremony was held for critical minerals refining and battery recycling of Lohum company, cell casing manufacturing unit of Scell Energy, and for its first LFP-CAM GigaFactory of Altmin and the upcoming GigaFactory-1 of Amara Raja Group.

Vaishnaw said that the MeitY had accorded approval for establishment of electronics manufacturing cluster (EMC) project over an area of 377.65 acres at Divtipally last year and notified it under the Modified Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC 2.0) Scheme to strengthen the electronics manufacturing ecosystem and give boost to EV manufacturing along with its supply chain.

Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies (ARACT) is the anchor unit and is establishing its factory over 262 acres.

The cluster is fully occupied with allotment of 307.47 acres of land to the four companies with their projected investment of `10,574 crore; they have committed to provide employment to 19,164 persons which includes 5,864 in direct and 13,300 in indirect employment.

Speaking at the event, IT minister Sridhar Babu said that the state government had introduced Telangana Electric Vehicle & Energy Storage Policy, Telangana Clean & Green Energy Policy to accelerate industrial expansion and sought the Centre’s support. He assured to ensure equitable industrial development in all regions of the state.

Mahbubnagar MP D.K. Aruna, local MLA Y. Srinivas Reddy and senior officials and industry representatives took part in the meeting.