Trucks: Heavy-duty Pollution and Action
Policy and public awareness related to truck pollution will have to be enhanced significantly to accelerate action and protect public health. Trucks are the deadliest source of toxic emissions and fuel guzzling. Several short- to medium-term strategies are needed both at the Central and local level to cut toxic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from trucks. This will require emissions standards and technology roadmaps to clean up the fleet, urban and regional strategizing of truck movement for spatial planning of commercial hubs, and eco-driving approaches. Overall, structural measures are needed to reduce the modal share of trucks and increase that of railways and waterways. All these strategies—national as well as local—will require time-bound action that is monitored for effectiveness. These measures will require well-defined strategies by the Central government and all state governments.