It is final, NITI Aayog to frame policy for electric vehicles

After raising concerns by the minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari, the government has finalised its think tank NITI Aayog to frame the policy for electric vehicles while all concerned ministries will implement them.

According to sources, the framed programme will be headed by a mission director and NITI Aayog will act as coordinator, reports TOI.

In November, minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari had objected NITI Aayog's proposal to appoint itself as the implementing agency for India’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Mission 2030. Gadkari said that the cabinet should appoint anyone fit for the role.

“NITI Aayog’s role is to develop good policies and they should do that. They should not become an implementing agency. Implementation should be given to anybody deemed to be fit by the Cabinet,” Nitin Gadkari said in an interview.

The idea of bringing all EV issues at one place is very welcome but the matter of who should implement it is something Niti Aayog can only suggest as part of its policy recommendations and not take a final call on it, he added.

Niti Aayog, meanwhile, has drafted a policy for electric vehicles and has suggested that EVs could have green number plates. It also suggests that EVs may be given benefits such as free parking for three years and removal of toll charges.

Also Read: NITI Aayog is building largest blockchain network to boost economy

Cabinet secretary convened the meeting after reservations were lodged by different ministries, including transport ministry stating that Niti Aayog cannot be the implementing agency for this ambitious programme.

There has to be a coordinated effort among all the ministries and departments concerned rather than trying to prove oneupmanship by any organisation. Each ministry has to do its bit, the report added.

Earlier this month, the minister of state for heavy industries Babul Supriyo said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, "There are, at present, no plans under consideration of the Department of Heavy Industry to make all vehicles in the country powered by electricity by 2030."

The response from Babul Supriyo was in complete contradiction to Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s statement, who earlier had told that India will be moving to an all-electric car fleet by 2030. According to Goyal, the government under NITI Aayog is working on a roadmap to ensure all-electric car fleet in the country.