Chandigarh administration plans to examine EV policy
On July 3, the Chandigarh administration will examine its non-electric vehicle (NEV) regulations, providing hope to citizens who want to purchase them. The UT administration has chosen to evaluate the EV Policy in light of the policy's clause that states that registration of non-electric
two-wheelers
would cease if the goal of 6,202 is reached in the fiscal year 2023–2024.The objective will likely be met by the first week of July as 5,500 of these two-wheelers have already been registered as of June 28. After that, no further registrations would be accepted until March 31, 2024. The registration of non-electric
four-wheelers
will also end when the goal of 22,626 is reached for the current fiscal year, which is anticipated to happen in December.Officials were given the task of compiling an analytical report on the execution of the policy during a recent meeting of the governing body of the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST), the nodal organisation in charge of doing so in the city.
A senior official stated, "We will weigh the policy's benefits and drawbacks during the scheduled meeting on Monday, and a decision will be made accordingly." The administration hopes to register a minimum of 35% electric two-wheelers in 2022–2023, 70% in 2023–2024, and 100% by 2024–2025 as part of a progressive phase-out strategy for two- and three-wheelers powered by internal combustion engines (ICE).
Anup Gupta, the mayor, had called the EV policy "anti-citizen" on June 23 and ordered the government one month to make the required adjustments. If changes were not made, he had stated that he would join the protests of the populace. The UT Mobility Department has already stopped accepting registrations for non-electric school/college, tour and factory buses until September 30 in an effort to promote green mobility.
The decision to limit the sale of non-electric automobiles in the city has raised worries from the Federation of the Chandigarh Region Automobile Dealers' Association that it will have a detrimental effect on the regional economy. There are several businesses in the area that produce non-electric automobiles, engines, and associated parts, making the automotive sector substantial employment in the area. The group expressed concern that restricting the sale of non-electric vehicles may lead to the loss of jobs and financial hardship for neighbourhood businesses.