New Delhi, 30 June (H.S.): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday said the new Delhi Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy will come into effect from Wednesday (July 1), adding that the government has prepared a comprehensive roadmap extending to 2030 to accelerate the transition to electric mobility.

In a statement, the Chief Minister said the 2020 EV Policy introduced by the previous government was primarily incentive-driven and adoption of electric vehicles remained entirely voluntary. The new government, she said, has retained financial incentives while introducing a phased programme of mandatory electrification across various vehicle categories to accelerate the shift to electric mobility.

She added that the policy also provides for structural reforms in the transport sector, expansion of charging infrastructure, a stronger institutional framework, and a comprehensive programme for the phased electrification of different categories of vehicles.

Gupta said the new policy retains a purchase incentive of up to Rs 30,000 for electric two-wheelers. In addition, buyers scrapping an old vehicle will receive an extra incentive of Rs 10,000 for the first time. She announced that from April 1, 2028, registration of all new two-wheelers in Delhi will be permitted only for electric vehicles.

The government has also introduced major changes for the three-wheeler segment. While the earlier policy offered incentives of up to Rs 30,000, the new policy raises the purchase incentive to Rs 50,000. Owners scrapping old vehicles will also receive an additional Rs 25,000 incentive. Furthermore, from January 1, 2027, registration of new L5-category auto-rickshaws will be allowed only as electric vehicles, ensuring complete electrification of the segment.

The Chief Minister said the new policy also introduces comprehensive provisions for commercial goods vehicles for the first time. Earlier, only a limited number of electric cargo vehicles were eligible for incentives and exemptions from no-entry restrictions on selected routes. Under the new policy, N1-category electric trucks will be eligible for purchase incentives of up to Rs 1 lakh, along with an additional scrappage incentive of up to Rs 50,000. Registration of N1-category vehicles will be limited to electric models, while the first 1,000 N2-category electric trucks will receive special exemptions from no-entry restrictions.

Gupta said the policy sets a target of converting 30 percent of Delhi's school bus fleet to electric vehicles by 2030. While the previous policy focused on developing charging infrastructure, the new policy significantly expands the initiative by designating Delhi Transco Limited (DTL) as the nodal agency. It also proposes a single-window clearance system, a digital monitoring platform, a grid planning framework, and a dedicated administrative mechanism for large-scale expansion of charging infrastructure.

The Chief Minister said the institutional framework under the new policy has also been substantially strengthened. In place of the earlier EV Cell and State EV Board, the policy establishes a Delhi EV Apex Committee chaired by the Transport Minister, a High-Powered Committee headed by the Chief Secretary, a dedicated EV Cell supported by a Project Management Consultant (PMC), and clearly defined responsibilities for all concerned departments.

She said the policy also introduces major reforms in battery management. While the previous policy focused mainly on battery recycling, the new framework provides for battery traceability—from manufacturing to recycling through digital tracking—collection centres, compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) norms, public-private partnership-based recycling systems, and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)-based battery management.

Gupta added that the financial framework of the EV Policy has also been strengthened. Earlier, the EV Fund relied primarily on pollution cess, road tax, and other levies. The new policy integrates financial support from the PM e-Drive scheme, various Central government programmes, State government budgetary allocations, and the ECC Fund, ensuring greater resources for effective implementation.

The Chief Minister said her government believes not merely in announcing policies but in implementing them in a practical, effective, and future-ready manner. She said the Delhi EV Policy 2026 reflects this vision and will not only increase the number of electric vehicles but also transform the capital's transport ecosystem by laying a strong foundation for a cleaner, modern, and sustainable mobility system.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar