Gandhinagar : Environment Friendly vehicles will be the future. Gujarat is a renowned state in the country as an automobile hub. Now, Gujarat will also become a landmark electric vehicle hub in environment friendly vehicles in the coming years. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has made an important announcement of Gujarat Electric Vehicle Policy-2021 for this purpose. Transport Minister R. C. Faldu, Energy Minister Saurabh Patel and Additional Chief Secretary to the Department of Ports and Transport as well as Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister M. K. Das were present. Giving details of the policy, the Chief Minister said that the policy would promote new e-vehicle technology and increase employment opportunities in e-vehicle driving, sales, financing, servicing and charging sectors. The Chief Minister said that this e-vehicle policy of Gujarat has been formulated keeping in view the factors of technology, manufacturing process as well as e-vehicle related factors and policies of the Government of India with the careful consideration of the state government and opinions and assistance of various experts in the field of electric vehicles. Vijay Rupani said that the Gujarat Electric Vehicle Policy focuses on four main issues. Increasing the use of electric vehicles in the state, making the state a manufacturing hub for the production of e-vehicles and their accessories, as well as encouraging young startups and investors in the field of electric mobility, as well as reducing vehicle emissions. The Chief Minister added. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that under this policy, a target has been set with a clear expectation that two lakh electric vehicles will come on the state roads in the next four years.
Accordingly, it is estimated that 1 lakh 10 thousand two wheelers, 40 thousand three wheelers and 20 thousand four wheelers will come to the state in the next 3 years. The cost per kilometer of such vehicles is on an average 30 to 50 per cent less than other vehicles and also significantly reduces air pollution, he added. In other words, in the next four years, when 2 lakh electric vehicles come on the roads of Gujarat for transportation, it is estimated that at least five crore rupees will be saved and carbon emissions will be reduced by 3 lakh tonnes and it will be good for the environment. The Chief Minister made it clear that the policy was formulated with a view to dispelling the notion that electric vehicles are expensive and un-affordable to the common man and that the target of using two lakh electric vehicles in four years would become a reality. The Chief Minister also said that other states of the country would get such subsidy at a maximum of Rs. Five thousand while in Gujarat it is double that means a maximum of Rs. 10,000. We are going to give a subsidy of 10 thousand. As a result, in four years, the state government has to spend Rs. 870 crores. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that a person who buys an electric two-wheeler in the state will get a subsidy of up to Rs 20,000. Similarly, for a three-wheeler up to Rs 50,000 and for a four-wheeler Rs. 1 lakh 50 thousand will be given as an incentive. The benefit of this subsidy will be available to two wheelers worth up to Rs 1.5 lakh, three wheelers worth up to Rs 5 lakh and four wheelers worth up to Rs 15 lakh.
