CSTEP

Urban Transport Focus - Small and Medium Sized Cities

The policy brief analyses problems under Business As Usual (BAU) conditions:

  • Smaller cities are emerging as the energy hotspots for the future
  • If proper interventions are not enforced in these cities now, high energy use with its impact on emissions will aggravate the current environmental situation
  • Smaller cities will face the same externalities of high vehicular growth in the coming decades, similar to the situation in megacities now And proposes solutions to it.

Skilling India's Workforce

This policy brief highlights the problems facedand the skills required to sought them Problem Highlight:
 India needs to 500 million trained
workers by 2022
 Current capacity and skill levels
are inadequate
Proposed Solutions:
 Strengthen existing institutions
and hold them responsible
 Have a single agency to
coordinate training programmes
 Create more inclusive programmes

Electric Buses in India: Technology, Policy and Benefits

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is a government organisation that operates the public transport bus service in Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) area and parts of the Bangalore Metropolitan Region (BMR) At present, BMTC is one of the better run bus transport systems in the country
 

Rare Earths and Energy Critical Elements: A Roadmap and Strategy for India

An initiative was taken by Ministry of Mines to review the status of the availability of rare earths and energy-critical elements with regard to their status in exploration, extraction and processing technologies along with CSTEP. This report reviews India’s production, consumption and reserves, and also suggests policy initiatives and interventions required from the government for the growth of this sector. 

Manufactured Sand Potential and Status in Karnataka

Sand is an essential element in concrete and hence plays an important role in the construction and infrastructure industry in a modern economy. It is typically sourced from riverbeds which are located in ecologically sensitive areas. Hence, excessive mining leads to the degradation of riverbeds, which affects the local groundwater system, potential biodiversity and the recreational potential of these regions. A large quantity of the official sand production per year in Karnataka is currently sourced from riverbed mining, some of which is also imported from neighbouring states.

Electric Buses in India: Technology, Policy and Benefits

With deteriorating air quality, there is a need to promote public transportation. The shift from conventional diesel buses to electric buses holds several benefits. Electric buses can play a positive role by reducing local pollution, noise and fuel consumption. However, it currently faces many challenges with respect to cost and safety concerns. These challenges can, however, be addressed by a good Battery Management System (BMS), rigorous implementation of standard operating procedures and customisation of bus fleet.