The chaotic chaos on Delhi’s roads would be unrecognizable without the millions of rickshaws and scooters that continue to zip through India’s capital, spewing toxic fumes. But now, an ambitious policy is underway to bring an environmental makeover to the city’s most famous car.
The Delhi government on Monday announced plans to eventually ban petrol scooters, motorbikes and autorickshaws in favor of electric-powered ones in a bid to bring down dangerously high pollution levels in the city by the end of the decade.
The policy, which will phase out new petrol and gasoline-powered scooters, trucks and buses in the capital region over the next two years, has been hailed by some environmentalists as a “game changer” in efforts to reduce toxic emissions.
In recent years, transport has become one of the biggest sources of air pollution in Delhi. Air pollution is at consistently dangerous levels for human health, creating a state of emergency in the capital and contributing to tens of thousands of deaths each year.
Scooters and rickshaws, which run mainly on petrol and compressed fossil gas, account for more than two-thirds of the tens of millions of vehicles on Delhi’s roads. Under the new policy, the Indian capital will issue new number plates only to electric light trucks and electric three-wheelers (known as e-rickshaws) from 2027, and only to electric scooters and electric motorcycles from 2028.
An air pollution protest was held in front of India Gate in Delhi in November last year. Photo: Bhawika Chhabra/Reuters
The Delhi government said it hopes the move will result in at least 30% of the national capital’s vehicle fleet being electrified by 2030. “The policy focuses on pure EVs, which offer superior environmental benefits as zero-emission vehicles,” the Delhi government said in a statement on Monday.
Amit Bhatt, managing director of the International Clean Transport Council, said, “The proposed phase-out of two-wheelers and three-wheelers could be a game-changer in the fight against air pollution in Delhi.”
Highlighting that scooters, rickshaws and trucks account for the majority of vehicles on Delhi’s roads, Bhatt added, “Accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles can significantly reduce vehicle emissions, improve public health and pave the way for a broader transition to zero-emission transport across all vehicle segments.”
The Delhi state government, run by the Bharatiya Janata Party and also governing at the national level, has faced significant criticism and numerous protests over the winter, accused of doing nothing to address dangerously high pollution levels that have persisted for months.
According to the government’s own statistics, car emissions account for an average of 23% of pollutants in the air, making it the single largest source of emissions, especially during the toxic winter months when thick smog routinely blankets cities.
E-rickshaws have become increasingly familiar on Delhi’s roads over the past two years, but drivers are reluctant to switch due to a lack of charging points. Under the new policy, the government has committed to installing more than 30,000 public charging points across the capital.
Vikas Nimesh, assistant professor at Delhi Institute of Technology’s School of Public Policy, also used the term “game changer”.
He highlighted that Delhi is already India’s largest market and the availability of affordable electric vehicles in India is rapidly expanding. Nimesh expressed optimism that the new policy would encourage manufacturers to invest in new green technologies and “come up with more EV models” to increase consumer choice and competitiveness.
The policy also introduced significant road and vehicle tax exemptions for people buying new electric cars, with the aim of encouraging drivers to switch on their own. However, some critics expressed concern that two years is too short a time to phase out new petrol scooters and rickshaws and ensure consumers have enough choice.
Others expressed concern that the policy should have a broader focus than just private cars. Renowned environmental activist Bableen Kandhari said the government should also work on expanding green public transport in the city.
Although Delhi has an extensive metro network, it is often criticized for lacking connectivity across the vast city, leaving people dependent on taking rickshaws or driving private scooters between their homes and metro and bus stops.
“More cars on the road is not the answer,” Kandari said. “To reduce traffic congestion and dust in the city, the government should work on improving last-mile connectivity through public transport and green solutions. This EV policy falls short in that regard.”
