New Delhi: In an attempt to reduce environmental pollution by checking carbon emission through promotion of electric vehicles, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday gave nod to a draft of new electric vehicle (EV) policy which proposes waiving of registration fee and road tax and cash incentives for buying electric vehicles.
As per an official statement, Punjab’s draft EV policy envisages registration of 25% more electric vehicles than last year.
Mann said the draft policy aimed at reducing environmental pollution by checking carbon emissions from vehicles through the promotion of electric vehicles. According to the draft policy, the major thrust would be on cities such as Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala and Bathinda that accounted for over 50% vehicles in the state.
“Electric charging points infrastructure will be set up across the state for private and public electric vehicles.It will be the government’s focus to establish the state as a hub for manufacturing EVs, their components, and electric batteries,” the Chief Minister said.
Mann also highlighted that A centre of excellence will be established for research and development in this field. The draft policy also proposes cash incentives to the people opting for electric vehicles in the state, he added. Additionally, a provision has been made to waive registration fee and road tax on the registration of these electric vehicles.
The first 1 lakh buyers of the electric vehicles will get a financial incentive of up to INR 10,000, whereas first 10,000 buyers of electric auto rickshaw and e-rickshaw will get a concession of up to INR 30,000, the statement said.
He said first 5,000 e-cart buyers will get an incentive up to INR 30,000 and first 5,000 buyers of light commercial vehicles will get an incentive between upto INR 30,000-INR 50,000. Before finalising the policy, views of people will be taken, Mann said.