Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Details New Electric Vehicle Policy to Curb Pollution

Days after the Delhi government rolled out its new Electric Vehicle (EV) policy, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta detailed the administration's plan to curb air pollution across Delhi. The policy targets a major shift toward electric two- and three-wheelers to reduce vehicular emissions, which currently account for 23 percent of the city's total pollution.

The government is spending over ₹15,000 crore on the policy from the state's total budget of ₹1 lakh crore. Chief Minister Gupta explained that the policy focuses on the two- and three-wheeler segments because they account for over 46 percent of Delhi's vehicular emissions. Beyond subsidies, the policy introduces mandates, scrapping incentives, infrastructure upgrades, and provisions for battery recycling.

To address charging needs, the government has set aside ₹8,000 crore solely for developing charging infrastructure and an e-waste plant. While Delhi Transco Ltd (DTL) reports around 9,000 active charging points in the city, the government plans to expand this network. The responsibility of setting up new charging points will be shared among manufacturers, dealers, resident welfare associations (RWAs), and private institutions at vehicle dealerships, housing complexes, and commercial spaces.

Hybrid vehicles have been excluded from the current policy. Gupta stated this decision keeps the policy focused entirely on pure electric vehicles to maximize environmental impact, while also managing the phased rollout of the ₹15,000 crore investment.

For car owners, the government has waived road tax and registration fees on electric cars costing up to ₹30 lakh. It is also offering a scrapping incentive of up to ₹1 lakh for cars, with subsidies transferred through direct benefit transfer within 60 days. To ensure long-term environmental benefits, buyers who avail of these subsidies are restricted from transferring their vehicles for three years.