Bihar Transport Department Rolls Out Incentives for Electric Vehicle Purchases

Patna: A new era in transportation has dawned in Bihar as the state government has rollsed out incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles. Effective immediately, buyers of electric vehicles will enjoy significant discounts on motor vehicle tax, aiming to foster a transition towards eco-friendly transportation solutions.

Under the Bihar Electric Vehicle Policy 2023, purchasers of electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and light-heavy electric motor vehicles will receive tax exemptions ranging from 50 to 75% at the point of sale during registration. The state has launched a tax exemption software on the NIC portal to facilitate this process, announced Transport Secretary Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal.

Secretary Aggarwal expressed optimism that the policy implementation will spur the adoption of electric vehicles, thereby enhancing air quality and curbing vehicle pollution across the state. The government has set a target that by 2028, 15% of newly purchased and registered vehicles in Bihar will be electric, aligning with efforts to promote sustainable mobility.

Incentives under the policy include a 75% tax rebate on the first 10,000 electric two-wheelers and the first 1,000 electric four-wheelers registered in Bihar. Subsequent registrations will receive a 50% discount. Additionally, purchasers will benefit from a purchase incentive, with Rs 10,000 per electric two-wheeler and Rs 1.50 lakh per electric four-wheeler payable for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe, and slightly reduced amounts for other categories.

For electric three-wheelers, both passenger and goods carriers, a 50% tax rebate will be provided, while heavy motor vehicles such as buses and goods carriers will receive a 75% tax exemption for the first two years, followed by a 50% rebate thereafter.

Furthermore, urban and local authorities will offer subsidized parking facilities for individual electric vehicles, with each town or city developing a parking plan and incorporating provisions for on-street parking and charging stations at reduced rates.

The move towards electric vehicles marks a significant step in Bihar’s commitment to environmental sustainability and underscores the government’s proactive approach to embracing clean energy solutions in the transportation sector.