Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government on Saturday announced the launch of Goa Electric Mobility Promotion Policy.
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Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said the policy would help generate 10,000 jobs in the State and also encourage investment in the State.
According to the policy, there would be electric charging stations every 25 kilometres on highway and every three kilometres in the city.
“Fifty charging stations would be stalled in the State in within three months from today. Today we are launching Goa Electricity Mobility Policy 2027. We are also launching charging infrastructure policy and that is why it is an important day for Goa today,” the Chief Minister said.
While addressing a “Round Table to Promote Electric Mobility” in Goa, the Chief Minister thanked Union Heavy Industries Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey for helping Goa and sanctioning 50 EV buses.
He added that 30 buses were launched in March 2021, 10 buses were launched and were flagged off from here, Cancona to Panjim. These buses being eco-friendly will help to decrease the pollution in the State.
The Chief Minister informed that the Government of Goa has also floated a tender for the additional 500 buses. When quizzed by Herald whether “Bal Rath” buses will also be included, Chief Minister Sawant replied, “It is interesting. So far there is no discussion but we will surely include this valuable suggestion for further action.”
He explained that the policy will aim to achieve the 30 per cent of the vehicle registered in the State to the EV from 2025. The policy also promotes the conversion of the ICV vehicles to the EV vehicle at 50 per cent of all the ferries to the electrical and the hybrid.
“The policy will help to generate 10,000 direct and in-direct jobs in the sector. It will encourage the start-up investment in the field of electrical mobility and associate sectors, it will also encourage the research and development, innovation and skill development within the EV sectors,” said Sawant.
The policy will provide incentives for the buyers. The waiver of the road tax and the registration fees for all the EV vehicles, in the next five years is a key feature of this new policy.
The policy will also provide support for the conversion of marine fleet operating on diesel, especially for the fishing trawlers, ferry boats into the hybrid boats that are the solar plus electric vehicle.
