The UK government on Monday released a road map for establishing an Intelligent Mobility Skill Centre in Bengal.

The road map involves setting up a training centre that will bring knowledge and best practices from the UK to Bengal on various aspects such as maintenance and operation of electric vehicles and allied training courses.

Amid the rising importance of electric vehicles, the state government is expected to launch RFP (request for proposal) likely before March 2024.

Under the ASPIRE project, UK company NPTC Wales and Snap E — electric taxi
provider in the city, which has also signed up to the UK-led zero emission vehicles declaration/ accelerating to zero coalition — has joined up and are working with the
state government to provide training to women so that they are able to drive electric cabs.

“Developed in partnership with the department of technical education, training &
skill development, Government of West Bengal under the ASPIRE programme, based on the best practices from the UK, the centre, once established will boost innovation, build capacity, create new jobs, enhance trade and contribute to the Net Zero
targets.

“We strongly believe that the partnership will make the transition faster, affordable and accessible to all,” said Andrew Fleming, British deputy high commissioner to East and Northeast India at a Bengal Chamber of Commerce- orgainsed session.

Eleven UK companies focussing on areas such as renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, waste and water management, net zero standards, and air pollution have attended the session.

The UK delegation will be travelling to two cities – Calcutta and Chennai.