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Himachal to Replace 1,000 Petrol Taxis with EVs in Green Push

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu announced plans to replace 1,000 petrol taxis with electric vehicles in a phased manner. The state will provide a 40% subsidy to taxi owners under the Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Scheme for this green transition. Additionally, the government will allocate permits for 390 private bus routes in rural areas with a 30% subsidy to improve connectivity and create jobs. The initiative is part of a broader commitment to environmental protection and promoting youth self-employment through EV adoption.

Key Points: Himachal to Replace 1,000 Petrol Taxis with Electric Vehicles

  • 1,000 petrol taxis to be replaced with EVs
  • 40% subsidy for taxi owners under Rajiv Gandhi Scheme
  • 390 new private bus routes for rural areas
  • Focus on environmental protection and self-employment
2 min read

Himachal to replace 1,000 petrol taxis with electric vehicles

Himachal Pradesh launches a subsidy scheme to replace 1,000 petrol taxis with electric vehicles, aiming to boost green transport and rural connectivity.

Himachal to replace 1,000 petrol taxis with electric vehicles
"The state government was committed to working towards environmental protection and promoting self-employment. - CM Sukhvinder Sukhu"

Shimla, Jan 10

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Saturday chaired a review meeting of the Transport and Labour and Employment Departments and said that petrol taxis in the state would be replaced with electric vehicles in a phased manner.

In the first phase, 1,000 petrol taxis would be replaced with e-taxis under the Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Scheme.

The state government would provide a 40 per cent subsidy to taxi owners for this purpose. He directed the Transport Department to complete the process as soon as possible.

The replaced petrol-based taxis would be scrapped at registered centres. CM Sukhu said that to strengthen transport facilities in rural areas, the state government would allocate permits for 390 routes for private bus operations.

The government would also provide a 30 per cent subsidy for this. This would provide better transport facilities to people in rural areas and also create employment opportunities.

The Chief Minister said that the state government was committed to working towards environmental protection and promoting self-employment.

In the first phase of the Rs 680-crore Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Scheme, subsidy is being provided for the purchase of e-taxis. This is an important step towards promoting electric vehicles and making the youth self-reliant.

He said that under the Rajiv Gandhi E-Taxi Scheme, eligible youth are given a 50 per cent subsidy and a guarantee of deploying their vehicles in government departments.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister (Innovation, Digital Technology and Governance) Gokul Butail, Additional Chief Secretary R.D. Nazeem, Secretary Priyanka Basu Ingty, Chief Minister's Secretary Rakesh Kanwar, Labour Commissioner Virendra Sharma.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good step, but what about the charging infrastructure? The hills have steep roads and cold weather which affects battery life. The government needs to set up fast-charging stations on major routes first, otherwise drivers will face big problems.
A
Aman W
Subsidy is one thing, but the upfront cost is still high for many small taxi owners. Also, scrapping the old taxis seems wasteful. Could they not be retrofitted with electric kits? Would create more jobs and be less costly for the environment in manufacturing.
S
Sarah B
As a frequent visitor to Himachal, I welcome this. The noise and fumes from old taxis really spoil the serene atmosphere. E-taxis will make the travel experience much more peaceful and clean. Hope they maintain the vehicles well.
V
Vikram M
The focus on rural transport with permits for 390 private bus routes is the real winner here. Villagers often get neglected. Better connectivity means better access to markets, hospitals, and education. This is true development. 👍
K
Karthik V
The youth employment angle under the Rajiv Gandhi scheme is promising. A 50% subsidy plus guaranteed deployment in govt departments reduces the risk for young entrepreneurs. This model should be replicated for other green startups across India.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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