Today Gujarat’s Transport Minister Vijay Rupani informed that Gujarat government will introduce a pilot project to run bus service comprising a fleet of six electric buses for public transport between Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. This pilot project would be as a part Gujarat government’s efforts to ensure a cleaner and greener environment. While speaking at the Meeting of Transport Ministers of States/UTs on Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (hybrid) & Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India), chaired by Union Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Anant Geete, Rupani urged the Government of India to curtail import duty on electric buses and also requested for Centre’s intervention in reduction in VAT and abolition of registration duty of electric vehicles. Rupani further apprised that the pilot project of electric buses will be handled by Gujarat Power Corporation Limited (GPCL) in association with Gujarat State Transport Corporation (GSRTC) and solar powered charging stations will be set up at the central bus station in Gandhinagar for charging the electric buses. Minister added that he will invite the automobile industry to manufacture electric vehicles in Gujarat as there is a rising need to enhance pollution-free public transport system in the country. He welcomed the Government’s green initiative which aims at promotion of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles so as to address issues of vehicular emissions and national fuel security.
