Delhi Gives Green Light to Private Electric Vehicles for Taxi Operations

The Delhi government has granted in-principle approval for privately owned electric vehicles (EVs) to function as shared taxis, the Chief Minister has announced. She confirmed that relevant regulations would be revised and a robust mechanism established to address industry concerns, says a report by The New Indian Express. She revealed that the Delhi administration is developing a including strategy encompassing EV charging infrastructure, solar energy utilisation, and battery waste management to accelerate EV adoption and reduce pollution levels in the capital.

Her remarks came during a high-level meeting with automobile manufacturers and aggregator firms including Ola, Uber, and Rapido, organised to encourage broader public acceptance of electric vehicles and advance shared mobility solutions across Delhi.

"Effective and sustainable control of pollution in Delhi is possible only by reducing the number of vehicles on the roads. Transport companies must actively support the government's mission so that Delhi can move rapidly towards becoming a Viksit Delhi," the CM was quoted as saying by TNIE.

Comprehensive EV Strategy for Capital

The Delhi Secretariat meeting drew attendance from Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, senior transport department officials, representatives from automobile manufacturers including Tata Motors, Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, and Honda, alongside officials from aggregator platforms.

Gupta emphasised that tackling pollution necessitates both immediate action and long-term planning. She stated that while the government is prepared to offer facilitation, regulatory flexibility, and resolution of industry concerns, companies must reciprocate by providing concessions that make electric vehicles and shared mobility more appealing to the public.

Vehicle Makers Seek Infrastructure Support

Automobile manufacturers informed the chief minister that large-scale EV deployment and a citizen-focused EV policy were crucial for meaningful pollution reduction.

They requested concessions to bolster charging infrastructure, arguing this would substantially enhance EV adoption rates.

Solar-Powered Charging Stations on Agenda

In response, Gupta indicated the government's readiness to allocate land for establishing charging stations but emphasised that companies must also investigate solar-powered charging alternatives.

Companies Must Handle Battery Waste: CM

She insisted that battery waste management would have to be undertaken by companies themselves to prevent creating fresh pollution hazards. She requested manufacturers to present a detailed plan with timelines for demand-based EV supply throughout Delhi and said vehicle pricing should be structured to attract consumers.