Delhi’s Transport Minister, Kailash Gahlot, unveiled plans to tackle the issue of retrofitting vehicles as part of the forthcoming Electric Vehicles Policy 2.0. The minister made this announcement during an interview with news agency PTI on Thursday.
The Electric Vehicles Policy-2020 for Delhi expired on August 8 of this year, and the government had previously assured that subsidies would continue until the new policy was in place. Minister Gahlot confirmed that the development of the new policy is currently in progress. In the meantime, the government intends to extend the existing policy for an additional six months or until the new one is finalized.
“We are in the process of submitting a cabinet note, and it should be finalized within this week. The current policy will be extended for six months or until the new policy is officially implemented,” Minister Gahlot affirmed.
Addressing the challenges of retrofitting, Minister Gahlot highlighted that many individuals are interested in converting their internal combustion engine (IC) vehicles into electric ones. However, this process is known to be costly, with the conversion of standard vehicles like the Gypsy costing nearly Rs 5-6 lakh. To encourage this conversion, the government is actively exploring options for incentives.
Additionally, the government is keen to enhance last-mile connectivity in the city. They have commenced a tender process for the deployment of 3,000 electric scooters and electric bicycles aimed at enhancing last-mile connectivity. The pilot program, beginning with 1,500 of these vehicles stationed at metro stations, will commence in the Dwarka area.
Minister Gahlot’s announcements reflect the government’s commitment to promoting electric vehicles and sustainable transportation options in Delhi, addressing both the financial challenges of retrofitting and improving last-mile connectivity.
