CM flags off 18 e-taxis; govt provided Rs 1.28 crore subsidy

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today flagged off 18 e-taxis procured under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgaar Start-up Yojana. The state government provided a total subsidy of Rs 1.28 crore for the purchase of these e-taxis. Under the scheme, the government offers a 50 per cent subsidy on the purchase of e-taxis and so far Rs 5.64 crore had been disbursed to 79 eligible youths in the state for the purpose.

The Chief Minister said that the initiative would not only provide gainful employment to the youths but would also ensure assured income for five years by attaching these e-taxis to government departments and corporations, with a provision of a two-year extension. He added that this step would also help in reducing the financial burden of the state.

He said that during the current financial year, the state government had already provided Rs 2.72 crore as subsidy to 40 eligible youths under the scheme. “A sum of Rs 66.41 crore has been allocated for the purchase of electric vehicles in the current financial year, reinforcing the state’s efforts to preserve the environment and make Himachal Pradesh a green state,” he added.

The beneficiaries included four youths from Shimla, three each from Kangra and Kinnaur, two each from Chamba, Kullu and Solan and one each from Hamirpur and Sirmaur districts. Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, Deputy Chief Whip Kewal Singh Pathania, MLAs Ashish Butail, Sanjay Awasthy, Hardeep Bawa and Ranjit Rana and senior government officers were present on the occasion.