GANDHINAGAR: Powered by the Centre’s cue,
Gujarat is expected to charge up its
clean-energy push. The state government plans to come out with a policy soon announcing huge incentives for using electric vehicles. The move aims to have one lakh
electric vehicles on road by 2022.
Top officials said the government is earmarking Rs 798 crore in subsidies and tax waivers to promote use of electric vehicles (EVs).
“The policy will cover two-wheelers and commercial vehicles,” an official said, adding, “Deliberations are under way on whether to include privately owned cars or not.”
It is estimated that 80,000 of the EVs will be two-wheelers; 14,000, three-wheelers; 4,500 four-wheeler commercial taxis; and 1,500 public buses. Battery charging stations for EVs will be set up across the state, the draft policy says. Officials of energy, transport, urban development, and finance departments of the state are giving final touches to the policy.
CM Vijay Rupani has asked officials to accord top priority to the formulation of the policy as PM Narendra Modi has called for adoption of pollution-free EVs. In fact, NITI Aayog has proposed that after 2030, only EVs should be sold in the country.