Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, May 24: In a landmark move to promote green mobility and cut down vehicular pollution, the Maharashtra government has announced a five-year toll waiver for electric vehicles (EVs) on major expressways including the Atal Setu, Mumbai-Pune Expressway, and the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway. The decision, outlined in a government resolution (GR) issued on Friday, marks a major step forward in the state's ambitious Electric Vehicle Policy 2025.

The GR further revealed that similar toll exemptions will soon extend to EVs plying on state highways under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department (PWD). A steering committee led by the state’s chief secretary will oversee the phased implementation of these exemptions. The transport department will compensate PWD for the waived toll revenue through supplementary financial provisions.

To ensure smooth travel for EVs, the government plans to bolster the charging infrastructure by installing facilities every 25 kilometres along state and national highways. "Every new and existing petrol pump will have at least one EV charging point," the GR stated, adding that an MoU with oil marketing companies is in the pipeline. Additionally, all Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) depots will be equipped with fast-charging stations.

The policy also covers a wide range of vehicles, including trucks, agricultural tractors, construction equipment, ambulances, and solid waste transport vehicles. Civic vehicles such as dumper trucks will be incentivized to switch to electric alternatives, supported by state subsidies.

A senior Mantralaya official mentioned that Development Control (DC) rules will be amended to ensure new housing societies include EV charging infrastructure. Existing societies, too, will receive incentives to set up charging stations from power utilities. Similarly, commercial complexes and government offices will be mandated to offer EV charging facilities.

The new EV policy envisions ambitious adoption targets:

• 30% of all new vehicle registrations to be electric

• 40% of two- and three-wheelers

• 30% of cars and SUVs

• 50% of aggregator cabs (Ola, Uber)

• 15% of private buses

“With this, we aim to cut down 325 tonnes of PM 2.5 emissions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one million tonnes by 2030,” the official affirmed.

As Maharashtra races towards a cleaner and greener future, the toll waiver is seen as a game-changer for both environmental sustainability and electric vehicle adoption across the state.