- Piaggio representatives requested Transport Minister and Home Minister to consider new technology vehicles like Electric Autos or BSVI vehicles to help curb city pollution levels.
Hyderabad: Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd (PVPL), a 100 % subsidiary of the Italian Piaggio Group (European leader of the 2Wh sector) and India’s leading manufacturer of small commercial vehicles today submitted a letter to the Transport Minister of Telangana and Home minister Mr. Mahmood Ali against the Auto Unions request for release of new 20,000 permits to 2 stroke BSIV auto-rickshaws in Hyderabad.
The company delegation was led by Mr. Raghava Rao, Zonal Manager, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd, Hyderabad. On this occasion, Piaggio officials requested the Minister to reconsider this decision and appealed him to consider Advanced Electric Autos or BSVI 4 stroke vehicles for the permit issuance as it will help in reducing the city pollution.
The air pollution level in India’s urban cities is increasing day by day and Hyderabad is no exception to it. In Hyderabad, there has been an overall increase in the major pollutants across the city and not only in the industrial belt. One of the direct contributors to this is overall increase in vehicular traffic leading to pollution.
Currently, the air quality of Hyderabad is in the range of satisfactory to moderate and air pollution will increase further if proper measures are not taken.
The issuance of any new fresh order of BS-IV permits will lead to an increase in emission especially when electric Autos are being given in many cities and also when BSVI implementation is just a few months away. According to Piaggio team if the new permits are given to advanced E-autos or better fuel-efficient and technologically advanced 4 stroke BSVI auto-rickshaws there will be less pollution in Hyderabad roads due to auto rickshaws and air index can be maintained.
After submitting the letter to the Transport Minister Mr. Raghava Rao, Zonal Manager, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd, Hyderabad said, “As a socially responsible organization we are concerned about the deteriorating condition of air quality index in Hyderabad. We are not against the release of new permits given to auto-rickshaws but we have reservations towards the permits being released for 2 stroke BSIV vehicles as these vehicles will contribute more to the increasing pollution in Hyderabad.
As per the central government’s mandate by April 2020, everyone needs to be BSVI ready and giving permission to the new batch of 20,000 BSIV 3 wheelers is nothing but going one step behind. We feel that government should reconsider their decision and give permits to electric vehicles or 4 stroke BSVI vehicles as new technologically advanced vehicles will help in curbing the increasing vehicular pollution and can act as best alternatives to BSIV 3Ws.
It will help in positioning Hyderabad not only as hi-tech IT city but also as a city which cares about the environment and is committed to providing environment-friendly mobility solutions to the people of Hyderabad. In our next course of action, we are going to meet Principle Secretary, DGP and Assistant commissioner Road safety and put forward our request to reconsider this decision.”
About Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd.
Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. is a 100% owned subsidiary of the Piaggio Group. The Company commenced operations in India in 1999 with the launch of the three-wheeler brand Apé, which was an immediate success and has grown from strength to strength over the years.
PVPL created the market, grew it, and has sustained a dominant position in the Diesel 3 wheeler segment. Piaggio is a leading player in the light transportation industry with a complete range of three and four-wheelers in Diesel, Petrol, CNG, LPG fuel variants.
The Company’s products are not only endorsed by over 2.7 million satisfied customers across India but also exported to more than 40 countries worldwide.
Piaggio has a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant at Baramati in Maharashtra, [with an installed annual production capacity of over 300,000 three-wheelers and 80,000 four-wheelers]. It is also self-reliant in some of the engine categories with the completion of its advanced engines plant on the same campus.
Piaggio has an over 3000-strong workforce comprising experienced engineers, R&D specialists, plant workers, sales, service and marketing professionals.