53k students get govt aid to buy electric two-wheelers

Gandhinagar: The state govt said on Tuesday that more than 53,000 students have benefited from the state's financial assistance scheme for battery-powered two-wheelers since its launch in 2015-16. The state govt has provided financial aid amounting to Rs 56 crore through the direct benefit transfer (DBT) system, aimed at promoting the use of electric vehicles among students.
The scheme offers Rs 12,000 in assistance for two-wheeled battery-powered vehicles for students from Class 9 to college. Additionally, 925 beneficiaries have received Rs 48,000 each under the tri-wheeled vehicle scheme, designed to support rickshaw drivers and small entrepreneurs. This programme has disbursed Rs 4 crore so far, an official statement said.
Stating that govt is creating an environment to promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs), the statement said that the Gujarat State Electric Vehicle Policy 2021 offers financial incentives for the development of EV charging stations to expand the infrastructure needed to encourage widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles are being promoted for their low operational costs and environmental benefits, with the running cost for electric two-wheelers estimated at around Rs 0.20 per kilometre.