In an effort to promote less-polluting transport options and boost last-mile connectivity, the Delhi government will offer subsidy to over 3,000 e-rickshaw owners, Environment and Forest Minister Imran Hussain said on Tuesday

The Delhi government will disburse ₹7 crore for 3,382 e-rickshaws registered with the Transport Department, Mr. Hussain said. The amount will come from the Air Ambience Fund, which was set up by the Delhi government in 2008 to boost ‘green’ technology by levying a fee on the sale of diesel.

For 2,027 e-rickshaws that were registered as of March 31, 2016, a subsidy of ₹15,000 each will be given. Another 1,355 e-rickshaws that were registered after April 1, 2016 will get a subsidy of ₹30,000 each. The subsidy amount will be released in February.

As per Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Manish Sisodia’s budget speech for 2016-17, the government had given a total of ₹4.97 crore as subsidy for 3,709 battery-operated vehicles and e-rickshaws in 2015-16.