Days after her government launched a new EV (Electric Vehicle policy, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed confidence that the ambitious move will play a crucial role in contributing towards realising the vision of a clean, healthy and pollution-free National Capital. In an interview with The Statesman, she said the government not only aims to address the city’s air pollution woes but also bring down dependence on fossil fuels.
The policy, which came into effect on 1 July, aims to bring around the city’s transport system to release zero emission and contribute to environmental sustainability as it lays down a roadmap for the transition to cleaner mobility with electric vehicles in four years. The move, Ms Gupta said, is a significant step to address air pollution, which hits the people of Delhi hard especially during the winter. “Our vision is simple: every Delhi family should feel that buying an EV is not a difficult but practical decision. We want the transition to be smooth, affordable and convenient so that clean mobility becomes a habit rather than a challenge,” she added.
On the concerns and the anxieties that people invariably have when it comes to switching to EV mode, she pointed out that Delhi already has around 9,000 charging points. “Our target is to expand this network to 32,000 charging points during the policy period. With charging becoming accessible across markets, offices, parking areas and residential neighbourhoods a range of anxieties will naturally reduce.
Fear disappears when facilities increase and experience grows. We are creating both,” she said. Asked about the home charging factor, CM Gupta said the government is already working with DISCOMs, RWAs, housing societies, builders and industry stakeholders to find practical solutions that work for Delhi’s residential communities. The policy encourages separate electricity meters for EV charging, making billing transparent and convenient.
Q. Many people in Delhi have doubts regarding EVs in terms of safety, affordability, and ‘range anxiety’ which prevent them from switching to electric vehicles. Is the government considering any initiative to bust myths on EVs?
A. Whenever a new technology arrives, people naturally have questions. That is completely normal. A few years ago, people had similar doubts about digital payments and online services. Today, they have become a part of our everyday life. I believe EVs are also moving in that direction. Our government’s responsibility is not only to announce a policy but also to build trust. We want people to make this transition with confidence, not confusion. That is why we will work closely with vehicle manufacturers, battery companies, RWAs, educational institutions, resident groups and industry associations to spread awareness about EV safety, charging, battery life and maintenance. We also want people to hear from those who are already using EVs every day because nothing builds confidence better than real experience. Affordability is another important concern. That is why our policy provides purchase incentives, scrapping incentives, road tax and registration fee exemptions so that the price gap between conventional vehicles and EVs becomes much smaller. At the same time, Delhi already has around 9,000 charging points, and our target is to expand this network to nearly 32,000 charging points during the policy period. As charging becomes easily available across markets, offices, parking areas and residential neighbourhoods, range anxiety will naturally reduce. Fear disappears when facilities increase and experience grows. We are creating both. Our vision is simple: every Delhi family should feel that buying an EV is not a difficult decision but a practical one. We want the transition to be smooth, affordable and convenient, so that clean mobility becomes a habit rather than a challenge.
Q. Home charging is going to be an essential factor. Does the government plan to get in touch with stakeholders and provide them workable solutions in this domain?
A. Absolutely. We understand that for many people, the real convenience of owning an EV begins at home. If charging is easy, people will adopt EVs much faster. That is why home charging is one of the strongest pillars of our EV Policy. Delhi has a unique urban landscape. A large number of people live in apartments, group housing societies and colonies where installing an individual charger is not always easy. We have kept these realities in mind while framing the policy. We are already working with DISCOMs, RWAs, housing societies, builders and industry stakeholders to find practical solutions that work for Delhi’s residential communities. The policy encourages separate electricity meters for EV charging, making billing transparent and convenient. We are also promoting common charging infrastructure in residential societies wherever individual chargers are not feasible. To reduce delays, Delhi Transco Limited (DTL) will operate a Single Window Clearance System so approvals for charging infrastructure become faster and simpler. Our target is to expand Delhi’s charging network from around 9,000 public charging points today to nearly 32,000 during the policy period. At the s a m e time, all new government infrastructure projects are being planned as EV charging-ready from the design stage itself. Our belief is that charging an EV should become as effortless as charging your mobile phone. Citizens should spend their time driving, not worrying about where to plug in.
Q. With more e-autos, e-rickshaws and charging points to gradually come up, what specific measures are being taken to ensure the infrastructure is safe and accessible for everyone, especially women, particularly during late hours?
A. Clean mobility must also be safe mobility. We cannot build a future where vehicles are modern but people feel unsafe using the supporting infrastructure. Safety has therefore been treated as an integral part of implementation, not an afterthought. Delhi Transco Limited has been made the nodal agency not only for expanding charging infrastructure but also for monitoring its performance and reliability. The policy requires clear service standards so that charging stations remain functional and properly maintained. As the charging network expands, priority will be given to locations that are already well-connected and frequently used by the public, such as metro stations, markets, commercial centres, parking facilities and other public spaces. Proper lighting, regular maintenance, CCTV surveillance wherever required and coordination with local agencies will remain important aspects while planning these facilities. Women today are leading Delhi’s workforce, education system and entrepreneurship. Their mobility should never be limited by concerns about safety. The same applies to students, senior citizens and working professionals who travel at different hours of the day. A charging station should provide confidence, not concern. Our vision is to build infrastructure that is not only modern and efficient but also safe, inclusive and accessible for every citizen of Delhi.
Q. Having more EVs will likely increase the use of batteries. Will a dedicated system for battery disposal be ready by the time people need to change them?
A. Yes, and this is an area where we are thinking well ahead of time. A clean vehicle should also have a clean end-of-life system. Otherwise we simply shift one environmental problem from the road to the landfill. Our EV Policy has specifically addressed battery management. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will issue detailed guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for implementing the Battery Waste Management Rules. Manufacturers will have clearly defined responsibilities for collecting used batteries, and authorised collection centres and recyclers will be promoted to ensure scientific disposal and recycling. Battery recycling is not only an environmental responsibility but also an economic opportunity. Valuable materials recovered from old batteries can be reused, reducing waste and supporting India’s growing EV ecosystem. Across the world, countries are now focusing on creating a circular economy for EV batteries, and Delhi also wants to move in that direction. We are not waiting for the problem to emerge before acting. We are preparing the system in advance. A truly green policy does not stop at the vehicle; it continues till the last battery is responsibly recycled. That is the kind of ecosystem we want to build for Delhi.
Q. E-rickshaw drivers mostly rely on battery swapping. How will the new policy support them with dedicated safe charging infrastructure?
A. E-rickshaw drivers are among the biggest contributors to Delhi’s green mobility story. For them, every hour saved means additional income. Therefore, our policy has been designed keeping their daily needs in mind. We recognise that battery swapping is often more practical than conventional charging for commercial drivers because it reduces downtime. That is why the policy gives importance to both charging stations and battery swapping infrastructure. Delhi Transco Limited has been entrusted with planning, deploying and monitoring public charging as well as battery swapping stations across the city. We have earmarked `1,000 crore for strengthening charging infrastructure, and additional support is also being pursued through the Government of India’s PM E-DRIVE Scheme. Our target is to create a wide network so that drivers can easily access safe and reliable facilities close to their routes. The policy also provides purchase incentives and scrapping incentives for eligible electric autos, helping drivers reduce the initial cost of switching to cleaner vehicles. Lower running costs combined with better infrastructure will directly improve their monthly savings. When an e-rickshaw driver spends less time waiting and less money on fuel, his earnings increase and his family’s future becomes stronger. That is the real success of any public policy: not just cleaner air, but better livelihoods.
Q. Delhi has a lot of residents living in flats and RWAs in which setting up home chargers is a challenge. What steps is the government taking to simplify approvals, reduce costs, and ensure every apartment gets access to charging infrastructure?
A. This is one of the most practical questions because Delhi is a city of apartments, group housing societies and densely populated colonies. We cannot expect people to shift to EVs if charging remains difficult where they live. That is exactly why we have designed solutions keeping Delhi’s housing pattern in mind. Our policy encourages RWAs and apartment societies to create common EV charging infrastructure so that residents do not have to depend only on individual parking spaces. We are working with DISCOMs to provide separate electricity meters for EV charging, making billing transparent and convenient. At the same time, Delhi Transco Limited (DTL) will operate a Single Window Clearance System, so approvals for charging infrastructure become quicker and simpler. We are also ensuring that every new government infrastructure project becomes EV charging-ready from the planning stage itself. It is always better to build for tomorrow than to rebuild later. The government cannot do this alone. RWAs, builders, DISCOMs, technology providers and citizens all have an important role to play. That is why we are working in partnership with every stakeholder. Clean mobility should not depend on the kind of house you live in. Whether someone lives in a bungalow, a DDA flat or a group housing society, everyone should have equal access to charging facilities. That is our vision of inclusive development.
Q. The shift to EVs will obviously generate jobs too. But what will we do with the existing population involved in repair and maintenance works?
Are there any plans to train Delhi’s youth, mechanics, and service providers so that they also benefit from this transition? A. Every technological revolution changes the nature of jobs, but it also creates new opportunities. Our responsibility as a government is to ensure that people move forward with technology instead of being left behind. This EV Policy is not only an environmental policy; it is also an employment policy. As electric mobility grows, demand will increase for charging infrastructure, battery management, servicing, software solutions, fleet management and manufacturing support. These sectors will create thousands of new opportunities for Delhi’s youth. At the same time, we are equally concerned about mechanics and technicians who have worked for years on conventional vehicles. Their experience is valuable. We want to help them upgrade their skills so they become EV technicians instead of losing work. Through skill development and specialised training programmes, mechanics, electricians and service providers will be prepared for the future. The EV ecosystem will need people for battery diagnostics, charging equipment maintenance, electronics, software updates and advanced vehicle servicing. These are high-value skills that can create better incomes over time. The future belongs to those who learn continuously. Our effort is that Delhi’s youth do not just find jobs in the green economy, they become its leaders. We want every transition to create opportunities, not uncertainty.
Q. The policy is future-looking and aims to curb pollution from vehicular emissions. Any timeline that the government is looking forward to in this regard?
A. We have adopted a practical roadmap because lasting change cannot happen overnight. Our approach is phased, planned and backed by infrastructure. Studies, including those by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), show that vehicular emissions contribute nearly 23% of Delhi’s winter air pollution. That is why our policy first focuses on the vehicle categories that contribute the most and have the highest daily usage – two -wheelers, three-wheelers and commercial goods vehicles. From January 2027, new registrations of eligible three-wheelers and certain commercial vehicles will gradually move towards electric mobility. From April 2028, the focus expands further with new two-wheeler registrations. Alongside this, our charging infrastructure will grow from around 9,000 charging points today to nearly 32,000 during the policy period. School buses are also being encouraged to progressively increase their electric fleet over the coming years. Citizens should start seeing visible changes much before the final milestones. Every new charging station, every electric auto, every electric scooter and every delivery vehicle that shifts to EV contributes to cleaner air. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Delhi has taken that step with confidence, and we will keep moving steadily towards a cleaner future.
Q. How confident are you that the policy will help Delhi become a pollution-free city?
A. I believe in setting ambitious goals while remaining honest about challenges. Air pollution is a complex issue. It has many sources including vehicles, dust, construction activities, biomass burning and factors beyond Delhi’s boundaries. No single policy can solve every problem. But one thing is equally true: if we want cleaner air, we must reduce vehicular emissions. This policy directly addresses one of the biggest contributors to Delhi’s pollution. That is why I am confident it will make a significant difference. What gives me confidence is that this is not merely a subsidy scheme. It combines financial incentives, charging infrastructure, stronger implementation, battery management, skill development and digital governance. It creates an entire ecosystem instead of focusing only on vehicle sales. Our success will not only be measured by the number of EVs registered. It will be measured by healthier children, cleaner neighbourhoods, quieter streets, lower fuel costs for families and better livelihoods for thousands of workers. We are not promising magic. We are promising sincere work, clear direction and consistent implementation. Every electric vehicle that replaces a polluting vehicle is one more breath of cleaner air for Delhi. My dream is that one day Delhi is known not only as the capital of India, but also as India’s clean mobility capital, a city where development and environment move together, and where every child grows up under a clearer sky. That is the Delhi we are working towards, one policy, one partnership and one positive step at a time.