This refers to ‘Shifting gears’ (March 11). It’s good that the government has learnt from the mistakes of the FAME I scheme. Despite the country having a huge number of passenger cars, a significant number of people use public transport system and it is more than imperative that a robust and cleaner mass transport infrastructure is created for them.

As the prices of lithium ion battery go down, we will soon see a gradual shift towards electric vehicles in the private category as well. And with sustained incentives to manufacturers and buyers from the government, we may well achieve electrification of public transport by 2030. All States must take a leaf out of what Nagpur has achieved in terms of charging infrastructure.

The government can achieve its target of shifting towards clean energy faster if consumers are incentivised to buy electric cars.

Noida

With the announcement of seven-phase polls to elect the 17th Lok Sabha, the Election Commission of India has set the stage for world’s largest election exercise. As a constitutional body, the EC has earned huge respect and trust among the voters for its exemplary role in protecting the integrity of the poll process. The EC now has to keep at bay the pernicious influence of muscle and money power on voters.

Sholavandan, TN

With reference to ‘Election dates: BJP seeks people’s blessings; Cong confident of win' (March 11), it was nice to observe that both the ruling BJP and the Opposition have unanimously welcomed the announcement of the dates of general elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishing all the political parties and candidates the very best deserves to be appreciated as also his averment that the aim of all political parties must be the same — the development of India and empowerment of every Indian.

So it’s incumbent upon each one of us to rise to the occasion and strengthen the Indian democracy by making the most appropriate choices at the ballot boxes during the elections scheduled to be held from April 11 to May 19.

This obviously implies that all anti-national political elements currently engaged in tearing apart the nation's multi-faceted fabric and, thereby, vitiating the political atmosphere must be summarily rejected.

All those playing into the hands of Pakistan — a well known terror-sponsoring nation — must be shown their due place.

New Delhi

This refers to ‘Banks coming out of the PCA framework may not see a sudden growth in credit’ (March 9). At a time when lenders in general and state-owned banks in particular are weighed down by non-performing assets, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code has brought much-needed respite to the lenders.

Public sector banks could recover a substantial amount of bad assets during 2017-18. However, what the lenders had to forego come at the expense of taxpayers’ money, which could otherwise have been used to fund economic growth and development.

While the loan book generates revenue for banks, it goes without saying that they need to ensure the quality of the loans by exercising due diligence. But, unfortunately, that has not been the case considering the elevated level of bad assets in the banking system.

Continuous oversight on the activities of borrowers are crucial in preventing the diversion of bank funds. The lenders who are under the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) and those that just got out of the framework must lend cautiously. Though the capital infusion from the government has enhanced their capacity to lend, it is prudent for these banks to put in more efforts to resolve the bad loan problem with minimum sacrifice. The bidders for the assets referred to NCLT for resolution are getting ample chances to cut down the valuation of the assets at the expense of the lenders, which ultimately is a drain on the exchequer.

Kottayam

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send your letters by email to bleditor@thehindu.co.in or by post to ‘Letters to the Editor’, The Hindu Business Line, Kasturi Buildings, 859-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.