New Delhi, September 7: In a significant move to bolster India’s electric freight ecosystem, NITI Aayog Member Shri Rajiv Gauba today launched the Platform for Aggregating Clean Transport (PACT) at the 5th e-FAST India Summit 2026. The initiative is designed to accelerate the scaled deployment of zero-emission trucks (ZET) across the nation.
The launch was witnessed by key officials, including Shri V. Umashankar (Secretary, MoRTH), Dr. Hanif Qureshi (Additional Secretary, MHI), Ms. Archana Mittal (Programme Director, Electric Mobility, NITI Aayog), and Shri Pawan Mulukutla (Executive Director, WRI), alongside approximately 250 participants from the freight, finance, and industry sectors.
Addressing Ecosystem Bottlenecks
As a flagship initiative under the e-FAST India platform, PACT aims to aggregate freight demand from shippers and Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) and translate it into concrete deployment opportunities across identified freight corridors. By connecting vehicle manufacturers, financiers, and Charge Point Operators (CPOs), the platform seeks to improve demand visibility and strengthen the commercial viability of electric Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (e-MHDVs).
The launch comes at a critical inflection point for India’s freight sector. Data presented at the summit revealed that e-freight vehicle deployments surged more than fourfold, jumping from 201 vehicles in FY25 to 826 in FY26. Currently, over 3,000 e-MHD trucks are operational nationwide, requiring coordinated infrastructure and financial strategies to sustain this momentum.
Leadership Perspectives
Chief Guest Shri Rajiv Gauba highlighted the necessity of collaboration, stating, “While significant progress has been made in building domestic EV manufacturing capacity and supportive policy mechanisms, the next phase of growth will depend on our ability to address ecosystem-wide challenges through collaboration… innovative financing models, corridor-based charging infrastructure, and market-driven partnerships will be critical to accelerating the commercial adoption of e-trucks.”
Shri V. Umashankar emphasized the need for systemic innovation, noting, “Accelerating electric freight mobility will require innovations in logistics operations, financing charging infrastructure, and battery governance… Measures such as battery health monitoring systems can improve transparency and unlock greater investment.”
Unveiling the ZET Marketplace
In addition to PACT, the Summit introduced the ZET Marketplace—an interactive business engagement platform. This tool connects e-truck manufacturers, LSPs, CPOs, and financiers to facilitate direct commercial opportunities and partnerships, aiming to transition zero-emission freight projects “from intent to implementation.”
Strategic Outlook
The technical and plenary sessions focused on de-risking mechanisms, charging infrastructure, and moving beyond individual pilots toward commercially viable, scale-up deployment. Through PACT and the ZET Marketplace, NITI Aayog and its partners are converting rising demand and investment interest into scalable projects to secure India’s clean mobility future.
Key Announcements:
· Launch of the Platform for Aggregating Clean Transport (PACT)
· Introduction of the ZET Marketplace
About NITI Aayog:
The apex public policy think tank of the Government of India, tasked with catalyzing economic development and fostering cooperative federalism.
About e-FAST India:
The Electric Freight Accelerator for Sustainable Transport – India is a NITI Aayog-led platform uniting government and industry stakeholders to accelerate the transition to zero-emission freight in the medium- and heavy-duty vehicle segments.
