PANAJI
The State government has decided to roll out a series of measures aimed at accelerating the State's transition to clean energy, including a proposal to provide up to 50 per cent subsidy for electric vehicles (EVs) for licensed motorcycle pilots and autorickshaw operators and the installation of 70 new EV charging stations across Goa.
The decisions were taken at a meeting on the State Energy Transition Plan and Sustainable Transport Strategy chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday. Officials from the Department of New and Renewable Energy (DNRE), Transport Department, Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) and other departments attended the meeting.
The Chief Minister directed the DNRE to formulate a comprehensive scheme offering up to 50 per cent subsidy for the purchase of electric vehicles by existing licensed motorcycle pilots and autorickshaw operators to encourage a shift away from petrol-powered vehicles.
Sawant also instructed the department to prepare a policy for the phased replacement of diesel generator (DG) sets in industrial and commercial establishments with cleaner alternatives, including Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), solar photovoltaic systems integrated with battery storage, gas-based systems wherever feasible, and other sustainable technologies.
The proposed policy will include an implementation roadmap, financial incentives, stakeholder consultations and regulatory measures to ensure a gradual transition to cleaner energy sources.
In another key decision, the Chief Minister said diesel buses of the Kadamba Transport Corporation that are around 10 years old will be retrofitted with CNG engines as part of the State's efforts to reduce emissions from public transport.
The government also announced that the DNRE will establish 70 new electric vehicle charging stations across Goa under the Centre's PM E-Drive scheme to strengthen the State's EV charging infrastructure and support the growing adoption of electric mobility.
