Leh: Secretary of Transport, Amit Sharma, visited and inspected the nation’s first green hydrogen mobility projects in Ladakh, located in the Palam area of Leh, on Wednesday.
Sharma, leading the project to produce green hydrogen and deploy five hydrogen fuel cell buses on Ladakh’s roads, set timelines for the completion of all works, including obtaining the necessary NOCs. He was accompanied by relevant officers from the Union Territory and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) team.
The head engineer of NTPC Ladakh briefed Sharma about the project’s novel design and structure and its contribution to making Ladakh the first carbon-neutral region in India.
Key Discussions and Future Plans
In the presence of DM Leh Santosh Sukhadeve and CE PWD Mutalib, Sharma held detailed discussions on facilitating the formal inauguration of the plant and reviewed the project’s design and structure. He emphasized that the NTPC team should start the process of bottling medical oxygen, a byproduct from extracting hydrogen from H2O molecules. This bottled oxygen can be provided to tourists and visitors in Ladakh as a goodwill gesture, considering the low oxygen levels at the high altitude of around 12,000 feet.
Completion and Inauguration
Before concluding his visit, Sharma directed the officials to expedite the project’s completion and ensure its timely inauguration. This green hydrogen mobility project marks a significant step towards sustainable development and carbon neutrality in Ladakh.