: Tuesday, 09 September 2025 9:23 pm
Chandigarh The process of adopting electric vehicles in Punjab is gaining momentum, which is to pay attention to practical aspects and implement gender -like policies. This has been revealed in the new independent studies of Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), which has been issued in the Punjab Conclave on E-dacoity and Sustainable Public Transportation organized by CEEW in collaboration with the Punjab Government on World EV Day. In these studies, public awareness, creation of trust and inclusive policy formulation have been described as important to adopt electric three-wheelers in greater numbers. Amritsar has seen an encouraging increase in adopting electric auto (e-auto), which has increased from just 30 vehicles in February 2023 to more than 1,300 in August 2025. To carry forward this discussion on the availability of clean and uniform transport means, policy makers, urban leaders, experts and e-auto drivers of Amritsar were brought on one platform in this conclave.
In his main address, Dr. Ravjot Singh, Minister of Local Bodies and Parliamentary Affairs of the Government of Punjab, said, “The major city of Punjab (Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and SAS Nagar (Mohali)) are the engine of economic development, and their sustainable development is the main part of our thinking. Diesel auto changes with electric auto not only reduces pollution, rather race the income plans and race the drivers. Women have been strengthened. Continuing this speed, we are starting to convert the strategy for a green, inclusive Punjab to convert the strategy for the enhancement of 447 electric buses to increase clean public transport in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and SAS Nagar (Mohali).
CEEW studies have revealed that despite the clear economic benefits from e -auto – they increase daily savings by 30 percent, practical prejudices in Amritsar initially obstructed them. Studies have shown that e-auto owners can earn 18 percent more profit in daily savings even while repaying the debt, while the rental, if they can meet the initial costs, they can earn 147 percent more profit. However, despite the subsidy, the rate of adoption of financial risks and adopting them due to the concerns of the e-auto range has been limited. In partnership with the Punjab government, CEEW has solved these problems through steps such as mapping of major places for charging infrastructure, enabling electric auto pilots and community participation for charging infrastructure. E-autos to increase from 30 to 1,300 in the last two and a half years underline that awareness and practical intervention among drivers are as important as financial incentives.
In its inaugural speech, Kulwant Singh, IAS, Director, Local Government Department, Government of Punjab said, “A rich and sustainable future vision of Punjab is the vision of all citizens here. The journey to convert 1,200 diesel autos into electric autos in Amritsar has been very inspiring, which has been possible with the target policy and community participation. Which includes major cities like Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and SAS Nagar.
CEEW studies have revealed that women are constantly facing systematic obstacles, ranging from limited access to vehicles and debt facilities, lack of infrastructure of training and security, which have only 0.03 percent stake in the transport workforce of the country. By 2024, 27 states released EV -related policies, out of which only two states (Delhi and West Bengal) have clearly made provisions related to working as women’s driver in the three -wheeler sector. Punjab has also exposed the Amritsar Municipal Corporation, Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry (MOHUA) and CEEW in this direction in this direction. This includes eliminating the compulsory rule of scraping of old diesel auto for women, providing license facilities, resuction of auto-rickshaws in 2019 under the Amritsar Through Holistic Intervention (Raahi) scheme and subsidy more than 90 percent subsidy and formed self-help groups under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM). They have been able to run pink e-autos to 200 women since March 2024, which has revealed them about Rs 5,000 more per month than sewing or factory jobs.
Dr. Himani Jain, Fellow, CEEW, said, “The story of Punjab’s EV is ahead of continuous. The Pink e-Auto scheme of Punjab is set aside in a systematic manner how quickly the correct plan can bring about practical understanding and include women, Punjab can expand these experiments and lead the next phase of EV actions in India. ”
The event also screened two short films: “Switching Gears” that shows the experience of auto drivers, and “pink trails,” that tells the story of women’s pink e-auto running in Amritsar.
The program was discussed with Shoikat Roy, a member of the Punjab Development Commission. Apart from this, the local government and transport department of the Government of Punjab, Amritsar Municipal Corporation, Dutash Geselshaft Fur International Jusmamenarbete (GIZ) GMBH, Nikor Associates, Purpose, Indian Institute of Sciences (IISC) Bangalore, The Urban Lab, SG Architects, UT Chandigarh Transport Department, Welfare and Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Panel discussions were also organized with the leaders of the Development Company (PMIDC). These include the need for coordinated steps at the state level to convert Punjab’s EV pilot projects into detailed and inclusive programs.
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Web Title-Electric Vehicle Adoption in Punjab on the Rise, Awareness and Gender-Inclusive Policies Needed: Ceew Research
