Make In Karnataka

The Electric Vehicle policy of Karnataka envisions making the state a hub for the production of alternative fuel vehicles, and push the ‘Make In Karnataka’ initiative. It aims to attract investments worth $4.83 Bn (INR 31K Cr) and create around 55,000 employment opportunities. Recently, it was reported that the Karnataka government’s Transport Department is also gearing up to launch electric auto rickshaws in Bengaluru.

The Karnataka state government will purchase 640 electric vehicles under the Central government’s FAME India subsidised scheme, as per an official statement.

The Department is giving subsidy up to 60% under the scheme with funds to set up infrastructure to charge the vehicles across Bengaluru, the statement further revealed. The electric vehicles will be operated by the state-run transport corporation.

The scheme incentivises all vehicle segments, including two-wheeler, three- wheeler auto, four-wheeler vehicles, light commercial vehicles and buses.

As several regions across India are putting in their efforts to switch to a cleaner mode of transport, Bengaluru has actively been a part of the list, working to make its transport run on batteries. Based on this, the state minister for large and medium scale industries, KJ George announced on Tuesday that 50 percent of the government run vehicles in the state will be converted to electric by 2019.

“The aim is to replace 50% of petrol and diesel vehicles used by the state government staff in Bengaluru to eco-friendly electric vehicles by 2019,” KJ George was quoted as saying during the Future Mobility Show 2019.

In a bid to encourage use of electric vehicles, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) has sent a proposal to Ministry of Power to set up 750 electric vehicle charging stations across Karnataka. BESCOM suggests the project be implemented in three phases, starting with cities having a population of more than one million.

The Karnataka budget 2019 has proposed setting up of electric vehicles (EV) charging stations across 10 metro stations in the city, as part of the state government’s comprehensive mobility scheme.

Karnataka is among the first states to adopt a comprehensive electric vehicles policy in India. The state government in September 2017 announced the “Karnataka Electric Vehicle & Energy Storage Policy” which is valid for five years and aims to attract investments of INR 31,000 Cr and create employment opportunities to 55K persons both from the supply and demand side. :