At the India Clean Transportation Summit (ICTS) 2025, the Delhi government announced a new collaborative effort with Oslo, Norway, aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric mobility and strengthening urban transport decarbonization strategies. The partnership, named the Delhi-Oslo Smart Transport Initiative (DOSTI), was unveiled during a high-level dialogue moderated by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT).
Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh outlined the city’s commitment to becoming a leading hub for electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. “By 2030, Delhi will become the ideal city for EVs, or the EV capital, and a strong charging infrastructure will drive electric vehicle adoption,” Singh stated. He also explained the symbolic meaning behind the name DOSTI—derived from the Hindi word for “friendship”—emphasizing mutual support between Delhi and Oslo in advancing sustainable transport.
Audun Garberg, Vice Director and Head of the Climate Department for the City of Oslo, welcomed the partnership, noting that city-to-city cooperation can accelerate progress in urban sustainability. “When cities cooperate, a lot happens. There is a lot to learn from Delhi, and we can have a successful co-learning collaboration,” Garberg said.
The initiative will facilitate knowledge exchange on a range of clean transport strategies, including the deployment of electric buses and the expansion of public charging infrastructure. It will also extend to non-road sectors such as construction, where Oslo has achieved significant progress. In 2024, 85% of municipal construction projects in Oslo were completed using zero-emission machinery, with a goal of reaching 100% by 2025. Officials noted that Delhi presents substantial opportunities for similar advancements.
Amit Bhatt, India Managing Director of the ICCT, highlighted Delhi’s leadership in electric bus deployment among Indian cities. “Delhi has already shown remarkable progress in deploying electric buses, setting a benchmark for other Indian cities. The collaboration with Oslo is a significant step that will further strengthen this journey,” Bhatt said.
Now in its third year, the India Clean Transportation Summit 2025 brought together over 650 participants, including representatives from 72 government agencies and more than 60 speakers. The summit featured 20 thematic sessions focusing on public transit, freight, manufacturing, emissions tracking, off-road decarbonization, marine transport, and policy development. Key topics included fuel efficiency, clean freight solutions, bus electrification, vehicle taxation reforms, and non-fiscal measures to scale EV adoption.