Maharashtra makes e-vehicles mandatory for govt, civic and Zilla Parishad offices

"Last month, we came up with a new e-vehicle policy. Yesterday, we announced a rebate for e-vehicle buyers as part of our e-vehicle policy," Desai told The Indian Express Thursday.

The manufacturers of e-vehicles have welcomed the government move to offer incentives. (Representational image/ File)

A day after the State Industry Department announced concessions up to Rs 1.50 lakh on e-vehicles, Industry Minister Subash Deshmukh Thursday said e-vehicles will henceforth become mandatory for all government, civic and Zilla Parishad offices.

“Last month, we came up with a new e-vehicle policy. Yesterday, we announced a rebate for e-vehicle buyers as part of our e-vehicle policy,” Desai told The Indian Express Thursday.

The Minister said in the next four years, 10 per cent of all public transport buses will be e-vehicles. “Similarly, 25 per cent state transport buses will be e-vehicles. As of now, the percentage of e-vehicles is much lesser than imagined”.

But the big move, Deshmukh said, will be the mandatory use of e-vehicles in all government offices. “Be it state government department, civic bodies, zilla parishads or gram panchayat, henceforth all purchases will be of e-vehicles. We will do away with petrol and diesel vehicles. We have already issued directives to the effect,” the Minister said while emphasising on promoting the non-polluting mode of transport.

Stating that the government was attracting e-vehicle manufacturers and the battery-makers by offering incentives, Desai said,”In the next three-four years, there will be 2,500 charging stations across the state which will further boost the e-vehicles industry.”

Though the government is seeking to promote e-vehicles, the vehicles are not popular among the middle class because they are cost-prohibitive.

“That is why we are offering incentives to the buyers. E-vehicles will be game-changers. Pollution will reduce drastically once more and more e-vehicles start plying on the roads. If more parts are made in the country, the cost is expected to go down,” he said.

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On Wednesday, the State Industry Department announced that it would reimburse from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1.50 lakh on purchase of e-vehicles. “This will be for the first few registrations. For instance, for the first one lakh e-two-wheelers, Rs 10,000 incentive will be given. This will be directly deposited in the bank account of the buyer. Similarly, a concession of Rs 30,000 is being offered on e-three-wheelers while Rs 1.50 lakh is being offered on cars,” said Subash Survase, director, Industry Department. The consumers will have to apply through the industry department’s website di-maharashtra.gov.in for availing the rebate on their e-vehicle purchase.

The manufacturers of e-vehicles have welcomed the government move to offer incentives.

“The latest decision of the government to offer incentive will boost the sale of e-vehicles. As per our information, it is a policy of the government to promote e-vehicles by offering sops to ensure pollution free cities. I think the rebate being offered for buying the first few vehicles will continue till the budgetary provision lasts…This is likely to continue in future as well, ” said Kunal Gupta, one of the founders of EMotorad which has a manufacturing plant near Hinjewadi.

Gupta said e-bikes have seen increased demand not only in the country but from foreign countries as well. “We are selling 600 units of the e-bikes in the country and exporting them to foreign countries like UAE where the government is lending support for promotion of e-vehicles. In big cities like Dubai, e-bikes are very popular. They have detachable batteries that can be recharged anywhere on the roads. Once charged, they can be run for 50 km,” he said, adding that the global shift towards electric mobility is now inevitable.

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Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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