The Uttarakhand government is accelerating efforts to roll out its much-anticipated Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, which is expected to be finalized and presented to the cabinet within the coming month. The state’s Department of Industries has already drafted the policy and is currently awaiting feedback from other departments.
The policy, developed after extensive consultation and study, incorporates key recommendations from the Setu Commission. According to Rajshekhar Joshi, Vice Chairman of the Commission, the EV policy is crucial for both the state’s economy and environment and aligns with current technological and ecological demands. “The government is making serious efforts to implement this policy at the earliest,” he said.
The draft policy focuses on four core areas:
- Manufacturing: Promoting local production of electric vehicles in Uttarakhand, with talks already held with major industry players like Tata and Mahindra, both of whom have expressed interest in investing in the state.
- Procurement Commitment: Establishing a commitment for EV procurement within government departments to ensure adoption at the institutional level.
- Incentives for Citizens: Introducing attractive incentives to boost the purchase of electric vehicles by the general public.
- Charging Infrastructure: Setting up an expansive charging network across the state to support EV usage.
Dialogue with key automobile sector stakeholders helped shape the draft into a progressive and investment-friendly policy. As EVs are also expected to become part of the state’s official vehicle fleet, departmental consensus is essential. Officials remain hopeful that inter-departmental discussions will conclude soon, paving the way for cabinet approval.
