To Boost EVs, Himachal Restricts Diesel/Petrol Vehicles For Govt Depts

The Transport Department has finalized 54 locations for setting up EV charging stations in the State. Photo-Pexels

In an initiative to boost the growth of Electric Vehicles (EV) in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed all government departments not to buy diesel or petrol vehicles starting January 1, 2024. This has been done with a view to promoting electric vehicles on a large scale. If necessary, the departments will be able to purchase petrol or diesel vehicles only after the state cabinet’s approval.

A notification from the state transport department said that due to the government’s consistent efforts, the number of government electric vehicles has reached 185, while that of private electric vehicles registered in the State is 2,733. The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister has also set an example by using electric vehicles himself for the past several months.

“Our government is promoting electric vehicles in Himachal in a big way. The Transport Department becomes the first department to replace its official vehicle fleet with EVs and the other departments are to follow the same analogy,” said Sukhu. As per the new plan, all the departments will ensure that they replace their fuel vehicles with EVs in a phased manner. The use of EVs is not only a new beginning but also shows the commitment of the government towards environmental preservation, he said.

Permission has been given to ply electric taxies on a contract basis to meet the requirement of vehicles in departments. Under the Rs 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme, electric taxi permits are being provided to the youth by providing them 50 percent subsidy on the purchase. The government is developing infrastructure for charging electric vehicles and these can also be charged at home.

The Transport Department has finalized 54 locations for setting up EV charging stations in the State, some of which are almost ready. To promote e-vehicles, it has been decided to develop 6 highways as green corridors. Apart from this, all the diesel buses of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) are being converted into EVs in a phased manner.

Recently, in a meeting, the manufacturing companies of e-buses have been requested to take into consideration the geographical conditions of Himachal while manufacturing the EVs. The state government is soon going to run electric buses on long routes as well. Type-1, 2, and 3 e-buses are being included in the HRTC fleet in a phased manner so that the target of making Himachal a clean and green energy state by March 31, 2026 can be achieved, reiterated Sukhu.