Maharashtra to enforce the use of electric vehicles for government bodies this month

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• Jan 3, 2022 | moderator

Digital Desk: Maharashtra government has stated that they will implement the use of electronic vehicles for all government-based bodies from January, 2022.

According to the EV Policy 2021, the government has planned to start the implementation process from April this year. 

But to improve e-mobility and facilitate the use of petrol and diesel vehicles, Maharashtra Government has advanced the date from which it will buy or rent only EVs for the government, urban local bodies and corporations to January 1 2022.

State Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray announced the plan's advancement on Sunday.

"Keeping our pledge to clean mobility and promoting citizens, the government of Maharashtra has decided to enforce the decision of buying or renting only Electric Vehicles for Govt/Urban Local Bodies/Corporations from January 1, 2022, instead of April 1, 2022," Thackeray tweeted.

He further added, "I'm grateful to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, DCM Ajit Pawar and RM Balasaheb Thorat for their support to @MahaEnvCC's climate action policies and ensuring that the government mechanisms go green too, to encourage citizens to walk alongside in climate action."

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The government introduced the EV Policy 2021 in July last year. This initiative has been taken to support the transformation of sustainable and hygienic mobility keys in Maharastra.

The policy proposes to reach 25 per cent electrification of public transport and last-mile delivery vehicles by 2025. This policy will be driven by the five targeted urban agglomerations in the state. 

This plan strives to convert 15 per cent of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation's current bus fleet to electric. This plan will further help make Maharashtra the country's top producer of BEVs (battery electric vehicles) in India in terms of annual production capacity.

The policy also seeks to target the installation of at least one Gigafactory to simulate advanced chemistry cell batteries. Likewise, it will facilitate analysis and growth, invention, and skill growth across the EV ecosystem.