Panaji: The Goa government is planning to provide up to a 50 per cent subsidy for the purchase of electric vehicles by licensed motorcycle pilots and auto-rickshaw operators as part of its strategy to accelerate the state’s transition to clean mobility, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday.
Chairing a meeting on Fuel Management and Sustainable Transport Strategy, Sawant directed the Department of New and Renewable Energy (DNRE) to formulate a comprehensive scheme offering the subsidy to existing licensed motorcycle pilots and auto-rickshaw operators to encourage them to shift from petrol-powered vehicles to electric mobility.
According to an official statement, the Chief Minister also asked the department to draft a policy for the phased replacement of diesel generator (DG) sets installed in industrial and commercial establishments with cleaner energy alternatives.
The proposed policy will encourage the use of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), solar photovoltaic systems integrated with battery storage, gas-based systems wherever feasible, and other sustainable energy technologies.
Sawant said the policy should include a clear implementation roadmap, financial incentives, stakeholder consultations, and regulatory measures to facilitate a gradual transition to cleaner sources of energy.
The Chief Minister also announced that diesel-powered buses of the state-run Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC), which are around 10 years old, will be retrofitted with compressed natural gas (CNG) engines to reduce emissions.
As part of the state’s electric mobility infrastructure, Sawant said the Department of New and Renewable Energy will establish 70 new electric vehicle charging stations across Goa under the Centre’s PM E-Drive Scheme.
Officials from the Department of New and Renewable Energy, the Transport Department, the state-run Kadamba Transport Corporation, and other departments attended the meeting.
