NEW DELHI, Feb 11 : NITI Aayog has outlined a comprehensive roadmap to steer India’s transport sector toward net zero emissions, recommending a phased withdrawal of diesel vehicles alongside the accelerated adoption of cleaner mobility solutions.
Released on Tuesday, the report emphasises that the transition should start with the gradual elimination of high emission diesel vehicles and the promotion of lower carbon alternatives such as compressed natural gas (CNG), hybrid models, and electric vehicles (EVs). The strategy forms part of a broader effort to align the sector with India’s long-term climate target of achieving net zero by 2070.
According to the policy think tank, the transformation will unfold in stages. The initial phase focuses on reducing diesel dependence while expanding the footprint of cleaner technologies. This will be followed by increased deployment of biofuels through flex fuel vehicles, higher Bio-CNG blending, and hybrid flex-fuel variants, even as EV adoption gathers pace. The final stage envisions a complete transition to zero emission vehicles.
The report underscores the scale of the challenge, noting that road transport currently relies heavily on fossil fuels, with petrol and diesel together accounting for over 80 per cent of the sector’s total energy consumption.
NITI Aayog also highlighted the importance of enforcing tighter Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standards, warning that India’s emission reduction goals will depend significantly on how effectively these norms are implemented.