Hyderabad

Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Monday travelled to the State Assembly in an electric car, highlighting the government’s push to promote eco-friendly vehicles across the state.

The minister, accompanied by MLA Danam Nagender, drove from the Ministers’ Quarters to the Assembly in the electric vehicle as a symbolic move to encourage people to adopt cleaner transport options.

Speaking on the occasion, Prabhakar said the state government introduced an electric vehicle (EV) policy to reduce pollution and protect the environment. He stressed that shifting to EVs is important to cut harmful emissions caused by fuel-based vehicles.

As part of the policy, the government has offered major benefits to buyers of electric vehicles. These include a 100 per cent exemption from road tax and registration charges, making EVs more affordable for the public.

The minister said that the government has already provided tax exemptions worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore under this policy. He added that steps are also being taken to improve infrastructure, including setting up charging stations across the state to support EV users.

Prabhakar noted that several EV manufacturers are supporting the initiative by offering discounts ranging from 10 to 20 per cent for government employees. He thanked these companies for their cooperation and urged more firms to come forward and offer incentives to boost EV adoption.

The government recently introduced a scheme offering up to 20% discounts on electric vehicles for employees. Finalised with EV makers, it may benefit five lakh staff. The 2024 policy covers multiple vehicle types, promoting cleaner, affordable transport.