Delhi Govt plans big push for EVs, shared mobility to tackle pollution

In a major push to curb air pollution and accelerate the shift to clean mobility, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday held a meeting with leading automobile manufacturers and aggregator companies, including Ola and Uber, to chalk out a comprehensive strategy for expanding electric vehicles (EVs) and shared transport services in the Capital.

At the meeting, the Delhi Government agreed in principle to allow privately owned electric vehicles to operate as shared taxis, a move aimed at reducing the number of vehicles on city roads while promoting affordable and environment-friendly transport.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said to achieve this objective, the government would amend the relevant rules and put in place an effective mechanism to address the concerns of automobile and aggregator companies.

Emphasising that pollution control in Delhi requires long-term and sustainable solutions, the CM said meaningful improvement in air quality was possible only by cutting down the number of vehicles on roads. She underlined that transport-related companies must actively support the government’s mission.

The meeting, held at the Delhi Secretariat, was attended by Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, senior officials of the Transport Department, representatives from automobile manufacturers such as Tata Motors, Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Toyota and Honda, along with aggregator companies Ola, Uber and Rapido.

Addressing the participants, the Chief Minister said the fight against pollution would have to be long and effective, combining immediate interventions with long-term structural changes.

She stated that the government is, in principle, willing to provide facilitation, resolve industry concerns and introduce flexibility in rules to encourage people to purchase EVs and opt for shared mobility. At the same time, she said companies must also take proactive decisions and offer concessions that make EVs and aggregator services more attractive for commuters.

During the deliberations, automobile manufacturers told the Chief Minister that full scale deployment of electric vehicles and a people-centric EV policy were essential for effective pollution control. They also highlighted the need for concessions to strengthen infrastructure, particularly the expansion of charging stations, to accelerate EV adoption.

Responding to this, CM Gupta said the government is prepared to provide land for setting up charging stations, but stressed that companies must explore charging through solar energy and take responsibility for battery waste management to prevent the emergence of new sources of pollution.

The CM also asked vehicle manufacturers to submit a detailed plan outlining timelines for meeting demand-based supply of electric vehicles across Delhi. She said vehicle pricing must be structured in a way that attracts consumers and boosts public interest in EVs.

In a separate meeting with aggregator companies, discussions focused on expanding shared mobility options in the city. The companies agreed to begin operating shared taxis and taxis driven by women drivers within one month. They also expressed readiness to onboard private EVs and BS-VI vehicles as taxis, subject to changes in existing rules. The Chief Minister assured that such amendments would be made in the coming days, while making it clear that strict passenger safety measures must be ensured.

The CM also asked aggregators to explore integrating e-rickshaws into their platforms and consider operating shuttle services on the Ring Road and between the city and the airport. She assured full government support and suggested that pilot projects be launched initially to assess feasibility and public utility.