India Targets Air Pollution, EV Charging Expansion

The minister also pushed for scaling up India’s vehicle scrappage ecosystem, calling it a win-win for industry, government and the environment. Currently, 16,830 vehicles are being scrapped each month, supported by Rs 47 crore of private investment. India still imports 376,000 tonnes of scrap metals, including steel, aluminium and rare earths. 

Large-scale scrapping could create 7 million jobs, cut 6,353 kilotonnes of CO2, equivalent to planting 260 million trees, recycle 33 per cent of raw materials and add Rs 40,000 crore in GST revenues from new vehicle sales.

He urged automakers to establish automated testing stations and registered vehicle scrapping facilities across the country and offer discounts on new vehicles bought with scrappage certificates, while the government is exploring GST concessions on such purchases.

Gadkari signalled a policy shift from costly metro rail projects to efficient, comfortable electric buses in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, citing their lower capital costs and quicker deployment. 

He said the government will prioritise flash-charging electric buses with 135-seat capacity that can charge in 20 seconds, noting that new expressways are enabling ultra-fast travel and spurring demand for both private and public transport. 

Meanwhile, the proposed digital hub will integrate over 70 separate charging applications into one platform, offering charger discovery, slot booking and payment features. Approvals for the platform are in advanced stages, and officials said it will significantly improve customer experience and daily EV use.

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