Road tax on electric vehicles exempted in Delhi: CM Arvind Kejriwal

The Delhi government under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced exempting of road tax on battery operated vehicles fulfilling what was promised as per the Delhi's Electric Vehicle Policy 2020. The transport department issued a notification on road tax exemption of electric vehicles on the directions of Chief Minister.

The Transport Department of the Delhi government has issued a gazette notification, stating full waiver on road tax on the battery-operated vehicles under the electric vehicle policy of the Delhi government. Also, suggestions from the public have been sought on the exemption on the registration fee and orders to waive off the fee will be issued in the next three days.

Kejriwal had announced the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2020 last month, with a focus to increase the adoption of electric vehicles in Delhi by incentivizing the purchase and use of the EVs. The policy aims to register 5 lakh electric vehicles in the city by 2024.

Taking to twitter, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot said, "Congrats Delhi! As promised by CM @ArvindKejriwal when announcing landmark EV Policy, Delhi govt has EXEMPTED road tax on Battery Operated Vehicles. With right incentives & supporting infra, we are determined to ensure Delhi leads the country in rapid transition to Elec Vehicles."

As per the notification issued by the Transport Department, the rules issued in the



policy for the exemption of registration fee have been opened for public opinion. The gazette says, "..the said draft will be taken into consideration after expiry of a period of three days from the date on which the copies of this notification as published in the Gazette of Delhi are made available to the public. Objections or suggestions in this behalf should be addressed to Secretary-cum-Commissioner (Transport), Government of National Capital of Delhi, Transport Department.."

The Delhi government led by Arvind Kejriwal has implemented the electric vehicle policy to promote the use of electric vehicles to reduce Delhi's air pollution. Thereafter, the Special Commissioner of Transport Department Shashi Kaushal has issued a notification with the order of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, under which tax exemption on all battery electric vehicles has been provided. This policy has come into force from the date of issue of this notification, i.e., road tax will not be paid on the electric vehicles starting 10th October 2020.

The Delhi EV Policy 2020 has been hailed as one of the most progressive EV policies in the world, which aims to have 25 percent of total vehicles as electric by 2024. It also focusses on the creation of employment in sectors such as driving, selling, financing, and charging of EVs, and heavy incentives for the rapid adoption of EVs. The policy was framed to adapt to the use of EVs, with an aim to reduce air pollution in the capital.