Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced a new electric vehicle policy on May 24, 2026, to phase out petrol-powered two- and three-wheelers.
The initiative represents a critical shift in the city's strategy to combat chronic air pollution. By transitioning the transport sector to electric power, the government aims to reduce the smog that typically peaks during the winter months.
The policy introduces a series of financial incentives to encourage adoption, including subsidies, and tax waivers for new EV buyers. Central to the plan is a roadmap for the gradual removal of internal combustion engine vehicles from the roads, specifically targeting smaller transport categories.
To support this transition, the city is aggressively expanding its charging infrastructure. Delhi currently has 9,000 charging points [1]. The government set a target to increase this number to 32,000 [2] by March 2030 [3]. This expansion is designed to eliminate range anxiety for residents and commercial operators.
Beyond vehicle electrification, the green drive includes a winter-time action plan to curb seasonal pollution spikes. This broader environmental strategy incorporates urban forestry as a means of improving air quality.
As part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, the city plans to plant 7,000,000 saplings [4]. This reforestation effort is intended to complement the reduction in tailpipe emissions by increasing the city's natural carbon sinks.
Gupta said the administration is making every possible effort to fix the environment. The combined approach of infrastructure growth and biological intervention is intended to create a sustainable future for the capital.
“Delhi currently has 9,000 charging points.”
This policy signals a move from voluntary EV adoption to a mandated phase-out of specific petrol vehicle classes. By tying infrastructure targets to a hard 2030 deadline and combining them with massive reforestation, Delhi is attempting a systemic overhaul of its urban ecology to solve a recurring public health crisis.
