Assam transport dept to procure 100 more electric buses

T P Venu

The Assam State Transport Corporation will be inviting tenders for procuring 100 more electric buses. According to reliable sources, tenders will be called for in the coming week. It may be noted that Olectra Greentech Limited earlier this year bagged an order of 100 electric buses. Senior officials say that in all 200 electric buses run on batteries would bring in a major change and result in reduction of pollution.

Speaking to IndiGlobal Media, Rahul Das, Managing Director, Assam State Transport Corporation said, “The Government is developing five charging stations, two in Guwahati and three in nearby towns. For Guwahati city, buses with a capacity of 120 km per single charge vehicles would be pressed into service and for nearby towns and villages, 165 km per single charge vehicles would be used.” One charging station is being developed by a private party in Jorhat.

Presently, close to 600-700 CNG buses are being run in Guwahati city including private ones. In the next six months, all the 100 buses order placed with Olectra would be delivered.

EV registrations rise

There has been a steady rise in electric vehicles usage in the state, since September 21, over 32,000 electric vehicle registrations have been done said Bhaskar Das, a senior official of the department.

As part of the ‘Electric Vehicle Policy of Assam, 2021’, the government will create infrastructure for EVs, including a network of charging points, nurture a skilled workforce for the sector, and make Assam the preferred destination for electric vehicle and component manufacturing. Assam seeks to reduce the use of fossil fuels and is aiming to be one among the top zero emission vehicles cities.

There is an opportunity for players in the EV market space in the form of investment in the state of Assam.

Realising that the success of the EV market lies in the accessibility of charging stations, the policy envisages a 25 per cent subsidy on commercial public EV charging stations for 2W, 3W, and 4W on equipment subject to a maximum limit of Rs 1 million per station. With an eye on zero emission mobility to achieve carbon neutrality, a slew of measures are being taken.

Incentives for EV manufacturing units

Players in the EV manufacturing space have an opportunity in Assam as it offers such units capital, power, interest and employment cost subsidy, income tax exemption and GST/SGST and stamp duty reimbursement. These investments come under the North East Industrial Development Scheme, 2017 and the Industrial and Investment Policy of Assam, 2019. The policy, officials said, envisages that 25% of the newly-registered vehicles will be EVs by 2026.

EV Policy 2021

• Commercial public EV charging stations for 2W, 3W, and 4W will be eligible for 25 percent capital subsidy on equipment/machinery subject to a maximum limit of INR 1 million per station
• The EV charging stations can claim up to 90 percent exemption from payment of electricity duty during the policy period
• 30% capital investment subsidy available under the North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS) is applicable in this sector
• Additionally, investment subsidy of 20 percent of cost of plant and machinery up to INR 1.5 million for micro, small, and medium (MSME) units
• 10 percent of cost of plant and machinery up to INR 100 million for large production units
• The units manufacturing EV or their components will be eligible for additional interest subsidy @ 2% on working capital loan in addition to all existing policies

The Assam Government seeks to phase out old vehicles that harm the environment by introducing EV in a phased manner.