Centre empowers states to set EV, accessibility quotas for ride aggregators
The revised guidelines, issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), aim to accelerate the transition to sustainable transport and ensure greater inclusion of persons with disabilities.
While the Centre has stopped short of mandating a national EV quota, the new rules require a steady year-on-year increase in the share of EVs in aggregator fleets. State governments are now empowered to set and enforce these targets based on the needs of each state.
The framework also mandates that a portion of aggregator fleets be made accessible to persons with disabilities (Divyangjan). The states can now fix specific quotas for both Divyangjan-friendly vehicles and their representation in the driver workforce.
'In addition to customer- and driver-friendly reforms, the guidelines promote sustainability and inclusion. States will decide annually the number of EVs to be added. Similarly, they will determine how many Divyangjan-friendly vehicle aggregators must operate,' a ministry official told the TNIE.
The updated rules also close several regulatory gaps from the previous version. Aggregators will now apply for a single licence covering all vehicle types—cars, bikes, and autos—across the entire state, streamlining the compliance process.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
10 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ad spend on Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme 2% not 80%: Centre to Rajya Sabha
The Centre on Wednesday said about 2 per cent of the total expenditure marked for the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was used on ads over the past five years, denying the claim that the spend was 80 per cent. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha , Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur said, "No, sir," when asked whether almost 80 per cent of the scheme's funds were used on advertisements. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Data Science Digital Marketing others Design Thinking Data Analytics Finance Project Management Management Artificial Intelligence Degree CXO Leadership Healthcare Operations Management Others PGDM Public Policy MBA Product Management Data Science Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Duration: 30 Weeks IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK-AI for Senior Executives India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK DABS India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIT Madras CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Thakur, in a written response, said a total of Rs 335.37 crore was spent under the BBBP scheme from financial year 2020-21 to 2024-25, of which only Rs 7.02 crore was earmarked for "media advocacy," which was approximately 2.09 per cent of the total expenditure. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Crossout: New Apocalyptic MMO Crossout Play Now Undo Launched in January 2015, the BBBP scheme aims to address the declining child sex ratio and promote girls' empowerment. The scheme works through awareness campaigns and multi-sectoral interventions at the district level, targeting shifts in social mindset and behaviour toward the girl child . Live Events The financial breakdown presented by the government shows that the entire sum of Rs 7.02 crore spent on media and advocacy was used in 2020-21, with no expenditure under that head in the subsequent years. The highest spending under the scheme was recorded in 2022-23, at Rs 95.96 crore, followed by Rs 88.63 crore in 2023-24. The clarification comes in response to mounting questions around fund utilisation under the scheme, especially in light of past criticisms about heavy spending on publicity with limited on-ground outcomes.
The Hindu
38 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Karnataka gets 750 electric buses under PM-eBus Sewa scheme
) Karnataka has been allotted 750 electric buses under the Centre's PM-eBus Sewa scheme, but the government of Karnataka has been urging for direct subsidy instead of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) procurement model. In response to a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP D. Veerendra Heggade, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu stated in Parliament that the Central Government had approved 750 e-buses for Karnataka under the scheme. 'As per the demand received from the State of Karnataka, a total of 750 electric buses have been sanctioned for all 10 eligible cities of the State under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme. Bengaluru and Udupi are not eligible as per the scheme's guidelines,' he said. Launched on August 16, 2023, the PM-eBus Sewa scheme aims to strengthen public transport systems by deploying 10,000 electric buses across India through a PPP model. 'Deployment of electric buses under the scheme is subject to completion of work related to associated infrastructure (behind-the-meter power and civil depot infrastructure). A total of 7,293 buses have been sanctioned so far out of which 6,518 buses have been tendered,' Mr. Sahu said. In Karnataka, Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, and Mysuru have each been allocated 100 buses while the remaining five eligible cities have been sanctioned 50 buses each. City-wise allotment of buses under PM-eBus Sewa Scheme City Buses Belagavi 100 Hubballi-Dharwad 100 Kalaburagi 100 Mangaluru 100 Mysuru 100 Shivamogga 50 Tumakuru 50 Ballari 50 Vijayapura 50 Davanagere 50 Total 750 Source Ministry of housing and urban affairs However, Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has criticised the current PPP approach. He emphasised that it was far more straightforward to procure and operate buses during the UPA era. 'Earlier, the Centre contributed 50% of the cost while the State and transport corporations shared the remaining 50% equally,' Mr. Reddy recalled. 'But now, under the NDA government, the subsidy is not given directly to States. Instead, private companies that win tenders receive the funding, own the buses, and are responsible for drivers and maintenance. The State-run corporations are only responsible for deploying conductors and paying the operator on a per-kilometre basis,' he added. Mr. Reddy has urged the Central Government to revert to the earlier model by directly providing financial assistance to State transport corporations for a more transparent and efficient rollout. Karnataka plans to introduce a total of 14,750 electric buses during the financial year 2025-26. A senior official from the Transport Department said that these buses would be procured through a combination of schemes, including PM-eBus Sewa, PM e-DRIVE, and other externally aided initiatives. In addition to the e-buses, the State intends to add 1,000 diesel buses under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, which involves hiring private operators to run State-owned buses.
Indian Express
38 minutes ago
- Indian Express
What is the FASTag annual pass scheme that Modi govt is planning to launch?
FASTag Annual Pass, FASTag New Rules: The FASTag has revolutionized the Electronic Toll Collection system in the country. This new initiative has helped to make toll operations more efficient, ensuring seamless and comfortable journeys for the National Highway (NH) users. Now, the Modi government has decided to introduce FASTag Annual Pass Scheme for private vehicle owners. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has planned to introduce an Annual Pass for non-commercial cars, jeeps, and van. This new initiative will come into effect from August 15, 2025. As per the Gazette Notification, a person who owns a mechanical vehicle registered for non-commercial purpose, having a valid and functional FASTag, shall be eligible to obtain a pass on payment of fee of Rs 3000 which shall be valid for one year or for two hundred crossings through any fee plaza on a national highway, whichever is earlier, irrespective of the fee leviable at each fee plaza. In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the Annual Pass will not be applicable to State Highways/Expressways as they don't fall under the jurisdiction of Central Government. 'Provided that in a closed user fee collection system, entry and exit of a mechanical vehicle through a fee plaza shall be considered as a single crossing. The Annual pass is applicable on National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) fee plazas,' he said. The Union Minister also stated that there is expected to be savings for vehicle owners. ' besides reducing congestion at fee plazas, the actual savings for vehicle owners and the government's revenue growth will depend on several factors including actual usage of vehicles and fee plaza crossings made in a year,' Gadkari added. Earlier this month, the NHAI further streamlined its policy for the Toll Collecting Agencies and Concessionaires.
