Surat to Launch India’s First Green Vehicle Policy with EV & Hydrogen Push

Surat, Gujarat – The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is set to announce the first-of-its-kind Green Vehicle Policy soon. This policy has been prepared under the guidance of Surat Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal, Energy Efficiency Department along with GIZ (German Agency). Surat is the first municipal corporation in the country to prepare a Green Vehicle Policy.

In the Green Vehicle Policy, special provisions have been made for CNG along with electric vehicles and hydrogen, biodiesel vehicles in the future to curb pollution from petrol-diesel vehicles. The ruling BJP in the SMC and the administrative wing will amend it and submit a proposal for approval in the standing committee in the coming days.

The policy has a provision to provide a subsidy of up to 5,000 as an incentive to the first 1000 people who buy electric autos. Not only this, there is a plan to provide 50 to 100 percent relief in vehicle tax to those who buy electric vehicles. In addition, consideration is being given to exempt drivers from environmental charges in the property tax. Not only this, there is also a plan to reserve 20 percent parking space for green vehicles in the municipal parking lot.

The Surat corporation also intends to run hydrogen vehicles in the city, which will be cheaper in fuel than e-vehicles. Following the successful trial of hydrogen buses on the Delhi-Jamshedpur route, there are plans to conduct trials in Surat. A Hazira company in Surat has the country’s largest hydrogen plant and discussions are underway to start hydrogen refill centers in the future.

Currently, about 50 charging stations have been built for e-cars in the city. However, there are plans to build new charging stations for four-wheelers and three-wheelers in the future. New charging stations will be built near parks, shopping malls, cinemas, tourist spots, so that people can charge their vehicles and do their work.

A cell will be formed for this 5-year policy. The cell will be given the power to make amendments and additions to the policy. Earlier, the e-vehicle policy was for 5 years, in which amendments were not possible in between. A cell will be formed under the chairmanship of the Municipal Commissioner, in which there will be representatives of the Collector, Police, RTO, and electricity and gas companies. The cell will meet every month.

The policy emphasizes moving towards e-rickshaws. Registration of CNG rickshaws has been mandatory in the city since 2006. However, as the engine heats up, the temperature in the atmosphere increases. The RTO has only 30,000 rickshaws registered, against which there are one and a half lakh rickshaws in the city. The remaining rickshaws are 15 years old and are plying without repassing. 

There is a provision to charge a fine of Rs 50 per day and Rs 1500 per month to those who drive rickshaws without repassing. However, since the RTO is not taking action, 15-year-old rickshaws are plying in large numbers and are causing pollution. 

In order to curb such autos in the city, there are plans to register only new e-autos from the RTO. No other rickshaw will be registered. For this, a committee of officials including the Collector, RTO, and the municipality will be formed. Because, registration from the RTO will be stopped by the Collector.