Government departments will not buy diesel-petrol vehicles from Jan 1, 2024, CM gave instructions

Dharamsala, December 30, 2023: With a view to making Himachal a green energy state and encouraging e-vehicles, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has directed all government departments not to buy diesel or petrol vehicles from January 1, 2024. In case of urgent need, departments will be able to purchase petrol or diesel vehicles only after the approval of the state cabinet.

In his very first budget, Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu took a big step towards system change and clarified the vision of the state government on electric vehicles (e-vehicles) and went ahead and set an example by using electric vehicles himself. Due to the efforts of the state government, today the number of government e-vehicles has reached 185, while the number of private electric vehicles registered in the state has reached 2733.

Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said, “The state government is promoting e-vehicles in Himachal. Transport Department is the first department in which the use of e-vehicles was started and operation of these vehicles is being ensured in all government departments in a phased manner. E-vehicles are not only a new beginning, but also shows the commitment of the state government towards environmental protection. We have to make the environment safe for the coming generations and we have to start it from today itself.

To meet the requirement of vehicles in government departments, the state government has given permission to take e-taxi on contract. Under the Rs 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Startup Scheme, e-taxi permits are being provided to the youth. 50 percent subsidy is also being given on the purchase of e-taxi. These vehicles can also be charged at home and the state government is also preparing infrastructure for charging. To promote e-vehicles, it has been decided to develop 6 highways as green corridors. The Transport Department has finalized 54 locations for setting up e-vehicle charging stations in the state, some of which are almost ready.

Apart from this, all the diesel trains of Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation are being converted into e-buses in a phased manner. Recently, in a meeting with the companies manufacturing e-buses, a request has been made to prepare the vehicles as per the geographical conditions of Himachal.

Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said, “The state government is going to run e-buses on long routes also. Type-1, 2 and 3 e-buses are being included in the HRTC fleet in a phased manner, so that the target of making Himachal a clean and green energy state by March 31, 2026 can be achieved.