In a bid to ensure cleaner air through public transport, Gujarat government will introduce a pilot project to run bus service comprising fleet of six electric buses for public transport between Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. State Transport Minister Vijaykumar Rupani demanded reduction in import duty on the electric buses.

Speaking at the meeting of Transport Ministers of States/UTs on Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (hybrid) & Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India), chaired by Union Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Anant Geete, Rupani urged the Government of India to curtail import duty on electric buses and also sought the Centre’s intervention in reduction in VAT and abolition of registration duty of electric vehicles, an official statement said.

Rupani said the pilot project of electric buses will be handled by Gujarat Power Corporation Limited (GPCL) in association with Gujarat State Transport Corporation (GSRTC) and solar-powered charging stations will be set up at the central bus station in Gandhinagar for charging buses.