Govt picks 10 freight corridors for electric and hydrogen truck deployment

In a major step toward decarbonizing India’s freight transport sector, the government has identified 10 key highway corridors where only zero-emission trucks (ZET) will be allowed for goods movement in the near future.

The move is part of the country's broader strategy to reduce air pollution, enhance energy security, and meet its 2070 net-zero emissions target.

The list of priority corridors, released earlier this month by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, will serve as pilot routes for the early deployment of electric and hydrogen-powered trucks.

These pilots are intended to pave the way for a national network of ZET-ready highways equipped with dedicated charging and refueling infrastructure.

Though trucks account for just 3% of vehicles on Indian roads, they are responsible for more than one-third of transport-related carbon dioxide emissions.

With road transport handling around 71% of the country’s freight, the shift to zero-emission alternatives is considered critical.

Projections from NITI Aayog estimate the number of trucks in India will rise from 4 million in 2022 to 17 million by 2050, underscoring the urgency of the transition.

“These 10 corridors serve not only as the best candidates for ZET pilots but as blueprints for the future of freight movement,” said Ajay K Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser, in the foreword to the official report on India's ZET priority corridors.

He added, “The adoption of ZET in India will play a crucial role in decarbonizing the logistics sector, improving public health, enhancing energy independence, and showcasing the country’s leadership in the global transition to a net-zero future.”

The identified ZET corridors include Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Jaipur, Pune-Nashik, Dhanbad-Kolkata, Kolkata-Haldia, Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam, Bengaluru-Chennai, Chennai-Viluppuram, Coimbatore-Salem, and Coimbatore-Kochi.

These routes were selected through a three-phase methodology involving data analysis of over 230 initial corridors, field research, and consultations with key stakeholders.

Parameters such as freight volume, industrial activity, supporting infrastructure, power grid readiness, and corridor length relative to battery range were among the criteria used in the assessment.

According to the report, “Establishing ZET corridors can help ensure the use of truck and infrastructure assets, demonstrate ZET operational and financial feasibility, help manage risks and lower costs, and unlock private capital for ZET projects.”

To support the transition, the central government has already allocated ₹500 crore for the procurement of zero-emission trucks under the Prime Minister Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme.

The 56-page report was developed with inputs from the Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET) at IIT Madras, the Rocky Mountain Institute, and pManifold, who served as knowledge partners.