New Delhi: The Delhi Transport Department has constituted a 10-member expert committee to reassess and strengthen the city’s Electric Vehicle (EV) policy framework. The panel will address critical delays in subsidy disbursement, environmental risks from battery waste, and the feasibility of installing EV charging stations under flyovers.
Policy Revision in Progress After Cabinet Objection
Last month, the Delhi Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, withheld approval of the proposed EV Policy 2.0, citing the need for revisions. In response, the Transport Department extended the current policy by three months and formed a panel to address gaps before finalising a revised version.
Headed by the Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Transport Chairman, the committee includes experts such as Dr K Ramachandra Rao (IIT Delhi), Sudhendu Jyoti Sinha (NITI Aayog), Abhishek Ranjan (BSES), and Vishal Kapoor (CESL).
Key Mandates: Subsidy, Infrastructure, and Transition Plans
The committee’s primary tasks include:
- Reviewing procedural delays in EV subsidy disbursal and suggesting streamlined mechanisms.
- Studying environmental risks related to battery waste and proposing a detailed management plan.
- Assessing the transition of CNG vehicles to EVs, supported by a scientific study mapping CNG usage and replacement timelines. The proposed transition is expected to begin from April 1, 2026.
Focus on Charging Infrastructure and Land Use
The panel will also examine the feasibility of installing EV charging stations beneath flyovers without affecting traffic flow. Currently, Delhi has about 6,500-7,000 charging points, with BSES having installed nearly 5,000 of them. The committee will recommend year-wise targets for setting up private and semi-public charging stations and outline policies for concessional land allocation for these installations.
Last-Mile Connectivity and Grid Readiness
To address last-mile connectivity, especially in unauthorised colonies and areas beyond the Outer Ring Road, the panel will assess the deployment of larger capacity e-auto rickshaws. It will suggest optimal permit numbers, routes, and criteria for placing e-rickshaw charging stations in these areas.
In addition, the committee has been tasked with evaluating the financial and technical requirements for grid upgrades, anticipating the surge in electricity demand due to EV adoption.
Timeline and Oversight
The panel is expected to submit its recommendations within two months and provide fortnightly progress updates to Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh. The revised EV policy is likely to be tabled for Cabinet approval by mid-June, as the Delhi government aims to achieve a complete shift to electric vehicles by 2030.
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