Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced a new electric-vehicle policy that will ban the registration of new petrol-powered two-wheelers starting April 1, 2028 [1].
The move represents a significant shift in urban transport strategy to combat the city's chronic air pollution. By forcing a transition to electric mobility, the administration aims to reduce tailpipe emissions and accelerate the adoption of sustainable transport systems.
As part of the broader Green Drive initiative, the government will provide subsidies and tax waivers to make electric vehicles more accessible to the public [2]. These financial incentives are designed to offset the initial cost of switching from internal combustion engines to electric alternatives before the 2028 deadline.
The policy is paired with an environmental effort to expand the city's green cover. The administration launched a dedicated portal to manage a plantation drive with a target of 7 million saplings [3]. This effort seeks to complement the reduction in vehicle emissions by increasing the city's natural carbon sequestration capacity.
Gupta said the combined approach of phasing out petrol vehicles and increasing urban forestry is essential for improving air quality. The transition period allows consumers and manufacturers to adjust to the new regulatory environment over the next two years.
Local authorities intend for the Green Drive portal to streamline the process of planting and monitoring the 7 million saplings [3]. The government expects the shift in vehicle registration to significantly lower the volume of new polluting motorcycles and scooters entering the city's roads [1].
“Registration of petrol two-wheelers will stop from 1 April 2028”
This policy signals a transition from voluntary EV adoption to a mandatory regulatory phase-out in one of the world's most polluted capitals. By setting a hard deadline for petrol two-wheeler registrations, Delhi is attempting to create a predictable market shift for manufacturers and consumers while simultaneously addressing air quality through massive urban reforestation.
