Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday announced that the state government will replace petrol taxis with electric vehicles in a phased manner, beginning with 1,000 taxis in the first phase. He was chairing a review meeting of the Transport and Labour and Employment Departments.
The Chief Minister said that the replacement of petrol taxis with e-taxis would be carried out under the Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Scheme, with the state government providing a 40 percent subsidy to taxi owners to ensure a smooth transition. He directed the Transport Department to expedite the process and added that all replaced petrol-based taxis would be scrapped at registered centres to ensure compliance with environmental norms.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also announced measures to strengthen transport facilities in rural areas. He said that permits would be allocated for 390 routes for private bus operations, along with a 30 percent subsidy from the state government. This initiative, he said, would improve connectivity in rural regions while also generating new employment opportunities.
Emphasising the government’s commitment to environmental protection and self-employment, the Chief Minister said that the Rs 680-crore Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Scheme places special focus on promoting electric mobility. In the first phase, subsidies are being provided for the purchase of e-taxis to encourage clean transportation and make youth self-reliant. He added that under the Rajiv Gandhi E-Taxi Scheme, eligible youth are provided a 50 percent subsidy along with an assurance that their vehicles will be deployed in government departments.
The meeting was attended by Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister (Innovation, Digital Technology and Governance) Gokul Butail, Additional Chief Secretary R.D. Nazeem, Secretary Priyanka Basu Ingty, Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, Labour Commissioner Dr. Virendra Sharma and other senior officers.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
