Baseline Study for Non-Urban Road Transport
TERI is undertaking a baseline study for the Indian non-urban road freight transport. As part of the study, TERI aims to identify major carriers, develop a methodology for data collection and validation, and establish key requirements for implementing an efficiency improvement program in the future.
Background
Road freight transport accounts for over 70% of India’s total freight transportation. It also accounts for high proportions of fuel consumption and GHG emissions. The National Transport Development Policy Committee (NTDPC) projected that the growth of freight traffic would increase by 5-6 times between 2011 and 2032, of which the majority is expected to be moved through the road. The heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) and light-duty vehicles (LDVs) in the commercial segment consume 64% of the total diesel sold through retail fuel stations in India[1]. It becomes imperative to focus on strategies to reduce fuel consumption in the road freight sector by promoting alternative technologies and efficiency improvement initiatives. It is estimated that 60% of transport emissions could be reduced by 2050 through improved efficiency and electrification[2].
[2] Road-based scenario, Climate Action Tracker - Decarbonising the Indian Transport sector pathways and policies, December 2020