Mumbai, May 7: GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd, an Essar venture and India’s only green logistics operator of LNG and electric-powered heavy commercial trucks, on Wednesday flagged off a new fleet of LNG-powered trucks at Chakan, Pune. The deployment is supported by Shriram Finance Limited, one of India’s largest NBFCs and the flagship company of the Shriram Group.

GreenLine continues to lead India’s low-carbon logistics transformation. Its current fleet of over 650 LNG trucks serves marquee companies across sectors such as FMCG and e-commerce, metals and mining, cement, oil and gas, and chemicals. The fleet has already covered more than 40 million km, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by over 10,000 tonnes.

The company plans to deploy over 10,000 LNG and EV trucks, supported by a nationwide network of 100 LNG refuelling stations, EV charging stations, and battery swapping facilities. This comprehensive initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions by up to 1 million tonnes annually.

This partnership marks a significant step in GreenLine’s ongoing mission to decarbonise India’s transportation sector, which contributes nearly 15 per cent of the country’s total carbon emissions. With over 4 million trucks currently in operation — and the number continuing to grow — India’s road logistics sector remains one of its most carbon-intensive industries.

Aligned with the government’s ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, GreenLine is committed to transitioning the heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) fleet to LNG and EV trucks to promote cleaner, more sustainable transport. With Shriram Finance’s backing, the deployment of these vehicles is faster and more efficient, making green logistics more financially accessible for businesses across the country.

Anand Mimani, CEO, GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd, said: “This fleet expansion, supported by Shriram Finance, is a key step towards transforming India’s logistics with sustainable, high-performance solutions. The trucks, manufactured by Blue Energy Motors (BEM), play a critical role in decarbonising the logistics sector and align with our vision for a greener future. With growing investments in LNG and other alternative fuels, we are seeing tangible progress towards reducing India’s carbon footprint.”

Sharvari Prabhu, CFO, GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd, added: “As we scale our LNG fleet, the role of strategic financial support becomes increasingly critical. Shriram Finance’s involvement helps us offer viable green alternatives to conventional trucking while supporting India’s broader decarbonisation goals.”

G.M. Jilani, Joint Managing Director, Shriram Finance Limited, commented: “We congratulate Greenline Mobility Solutions on the expansion of their green fleet with the addition of LNG-powered trucks, which reinforces their unwavering commitment to sustainable logistics. At Shriram Finance, we’re proud to support this forward-looking initiative, which aligns with our commitment to responsible financing and environmental stewardship. This partnership marks a significant milestone as our first investment in cleaner fuel technology, showcases our commitment to expand our green financing beyond electric mobility, and underscores our resolve to drive meaningful change across the transportation ecosystem. We remain dedicated to driving positive change, accelerating sustainable initiatives, and supporting environmentally responsible growth across the transportation sector.”

GreenLine’s LNG-powered trucks are manufactured by Blue Energy Motors (BEM). BEM is a leading manufacturer of LNG-powered trucks, delivering innovative solutions for the logistics industry. Their cutting-edge technology is designed to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability in India’s transport sector.

Mumbai, May 7: In the midst of rising market volatility sparked by geopolitical tensions, experts on Wednesday urged investors to remain calm and take a calculated approach, especially while buying defence stocks.

Indian defence stocks traded flat amid heightened tensions with Pakistan after India successfully carried out ‘Operation Sindoor’.

Analysts suggested investors to adopt a wait-and-watch approach due to geopolitical risks.

“This is a time for careful planning rather than rushed decisions or panic buying,” said Dr Vikas Gupta, CEO and Chief Investment Strategist at OmniScience Capital.

Long-term investment opportunities continue to exist, especially in the defence sector.

He advised investors to avoid falling into fear or FOMO (fear of missing out) and, instead, maintain a watchlist of sectors and stocks that show strong long-term promise.

The key, according to Gupta, is to allocate capital gradually and rationally, rather than reacting emotionally to market noise.

However, Gupta emphasised that the defence sector stands out as a key area of focus.

“Defence companies, already holding strong order books, are likely to see further growth in orders due to Operation Sindoor,” he added.

“The attention now shifts to the pace of project execution, which could become more aggressive,” he stated.

According to market experts, defence stocks have already witnessed a significant run-up in recent sessions, particularly following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Gupta suggests that the results of this push may start reflecting in financials over the next few quarters to a couple of years, potentially driving revenue and profit growth.

Beyond conventional arms and ammunition, other critical defence-related areas are poised for growth, including cyber security, strategic minerals, rare earths, oil and gas, military EPC and defence logistics.

Meanwhile, shares of Bharat Dynamics, Hindustan Aeronautics, Bharat Electronics, and BEML remained largely unchanged.

Shipbuilding stocks such as Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Garden Reach Shipbuilders, and Cochin Shipyard also reflected a similar flat trend.

Mumbai, May 6: Indian stock markets ended lower on Tuesday, as escalating geopolitical tensions dampened investor sentiment and triggered broad-based selling across sectors.

The Sensex slipped by 155.77 points, or 0.19 per cent, to settle at 80,641.07. Meanwhile, the Nifty dropped more sharply by 81.55 points, or 0.33 per cent, closing at 24,379.60.

Several major stocks weighed on the indices. Eternal (formerly Zomato), State Bank of India (SBI), Tata Motors and NTPC were the top losers on the Sensex, falling between 1.94 per cent and 3.15 per cent.

On the other hand, some stocks managed to buck the trend. Bharti Airtel, Tata Steel, Mahindra and Mahindra, Hindustan Unilever, and Nestle India were among the ten Sensex gainers, rising by 1.66 per cent.

The selling pressure was even stronger in the broader market. The Nifty Midcap100 index fell by 2.27 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap100 index dropped by 2.50 per cent — reflecting deeper losses beyond the frontline stocks.

Except for Nifty Auto, all sectoral indices on the NSE ended lower, with Nifty PSU Bank taking the biggest hit.

Out of 12 stocks, 11 in the PSU Bank index closed lower, pushing the index down by 1.18 per cent to close the session at 54,271.40.

Major drags included Bank of Baroda, which plunged 10.91 per cent, followed by Union Bank of India and Bank of India, which fell 6.19 per cent and 6.33 per cent, respectively.

The real estate sector also saw heavy losses. The Nifty Realty index declined by 3.58 per cent, led by a 6.36 per cent drop in Godrej Properties and a 4.96 per cent fall in Sobha Limited.

Adding to the nervousness in the market, the India VIX, often referred to as the fear index, rose by 3.58 per cent to 19 points — indicating increased market volatility.

The decline suggests investor caution across sectors, with profit booking and global cues possibly weighing on sentiment, market experts noted.