To make Punjab clean, green, and pollution-free, Punjab Transport Department has prepared a draft of a new Electric Vehicle policy to check environmental pollution in the state. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann gave nod to the draft policy, which envisages registration of 25 percent more electric vehicles as compared to the previous year.
Under the new draft policy, a major thrust will be laid in cities like Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala, and Bathinda that cater to more than 50 percent vehicles in the state. As per this draft, infrastructure — in terms of electric charging points — will be set up across the State for private and public electric vehicles.
“This draft policy also stipulates cash incentives to the people opting for electric vehicles in the state. First one lakh buyers of the electric vehicles will get a financial incentive up to Rs 10,000. First 10,000 buyers of electric auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaw will get a financial incentive up to Rs 30,000. First 5,000 e-cart buyers will get an incentive up to Rs 30,000. First 5,000 buyers of light commercial vehicles will get an incentive between up to Rs 30,000-Rs 50,000,” said the state Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar.
Provision has also been made to waive off registration fee and road tax on the registration of these electric vehicles, said the Minister adding that people’s views will be taken before finalizing this policy.
Similarly, taking a leap towards hassle-free e-governance services, the state Transport Department has launched an online driving license facility for the people thereby facilitating the citizens to get learner’s driving license on a single click of their computer, mobile, tablet, or laptop.
After launching www.sarathi.parivahan.gov.in portal, the people are getting the learner’s driving license just at a single click of their computer, mobile, tablet or phone while sitting at their home 24X7.
The Minister informed that the applicant can apply for the learner’s driving license while uploading his Adhaar card after which he can appear in the online learning license test. And, after clearing the online test the applicant can download the license and take its print. This online process is saving precious time of the people who earlier have to stand in long queues for getting their license.
Notably, the driving license was issued to 5.21 lakh applicants in 2021-22. With the launch of this online facility, more than five lakh applicants are expected to get their licenses in a smooth and hassle-free manner without even going to the RTA offices. Apart from this, if people desire they can apply for their licenses at Suvidha centre too.
The Minister said that the State Government has started luxury Volvo buses from Punjab to Delhi’s IGI Airport within three months after taking over in the State. From the date of commencing bus service on June 15, as many as 72,378 passengers have availed affordable bus service, and the Government has generated revenue of over Rs 13.89 crore up till November 30.
About 25 Volvo buses are plying daily from Amritsar, Pathankot, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Patiala, Nawanshahr, Ropar, Moga and Chandigarh to the international airport in Delhi, he added.
The Minister said that this historic decision is facilitating lakhs of NRIs of Punjab on one hand, similarly, it is sounding death knell for the transport mafia. The Minister said that the Mann Government is taking every initiative to safeguard the interests of Punjabis and eliminate all sorts of mafia or monopolization from the state.
