Telangana Clears Rs 200 Crore Scheme to Convert Auto-Rickshaws to EVs

The Telangana State Cabinet has approved a special scheme with an outlay of Rs 200 crore to convert existing petrol and diesel auto-rickshaws into electric vehicles within the Core Urban Region Economy limits in Hyderabad. Under the initiative, eligible auto-rickshaw drivers will receive a subsidy of up to Rs 1.5 lakh per vehicle, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy announced following the Cabinet meeting.

The scheme offers beneficiaries two options: they can either retrofit an electric kit onto their existing vehicle or scrap the old vehicle and purchase a brand-new electric auto-rickshaw.

According to the latest figures released by the State government, there are currently 18,766 petrol and diesel auto-rickshaws operating in Hyderabad. The new policy details come alongside shifting figures regarding the city's auto fleet and conversion costs over the past three months.

In May, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy spoke about the transition during a programme at Haj House in Nampally. At the time, the Chief Minister stated that nearly two lakh auto-rickshaws were operating across Hyderabad, adding that a majority of them were run by people from the minority community.

During that event in Nampally, the Chief Minister had noted that auto drivers spend between Rs 300 and Rs 400 every day on fuel. He stated that converting diesel autos into electric vehicles would help drivers save nearly Rs 10,000 per month, estimating the retrofitting cost at approximately Rs 1.20 lakh per vehicle.

The Cabinet's latest approval now fixes the vehicle count at 18,766 and raises the estimated retrofitting subsidy support to up to Rs 1.50 lakh per vehicle under the Rs 200 crore outlay.