Parliament Question: Electric mobility for last-mile connectivity in urban and rural areas

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 3757 ANSWERED ON - 25/03/2026 ELECTRIC MOBILITY FOR LAST-MILE CONNECTIVITY IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS 3757. SHRI SANJAY KUMAR JHA: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS be pleased to state: (a) the steps being taken under electric mobility to ensure last-mile connectivity in urban and rural areas; (b) the manner in which Government plans to integrate Hyperloop technology into the existing transport infrastructure; (c) the provisions in place to ensure safety, affordability and public acceptance of new technologies such as ropeways, sky buses etc.; and (d) the manner in which these green mobility projects will be financed and whether the provision for private sector participation is proposed in its implementation? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI) (a) Government has taken the following initiatives to promote the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the country: (i) Notification issued vide S.O. 5333(E) dated the 18th October, 2018, to grant exemption from the requirements of the permit to the battery-operated transport vehicles. (ii) Notification issued vide G.S.R. 525(E) dated the 2nd August, 2021, to grant exemption of Battery Operated Vehicles from payment of fees for the purpose of issue or renewal of registration certificate and assignment of new registration mark. (iii) Notification issued vide G.S.R. 302(E) dated the 18th April, 2023, to grant All India Tourist Permit for battery-operated vehicles without payment of permit fee. (iv) Notification issued vide G.S.R. 167(E) dated the 1st March, 2019, to facilitate retrofitting of a hybrid electric system or an electric kit to vehicles. (v) Notification issued vide G.S.R. 749(E) dated the 7th August 2018 enabling registration mark of Battery Operated Vehicles in Yellow colour on Green background for the transport vehicles and for all other cases, in White colour on Green background.(vi) Further, an advisory dated 12th August 2020 has been issued to all States and UTs regarding sale and registration of two-wheeled Electric Vehicles without batteries. The Government in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways vide Notification G.S.R. 835(E) dated 11th November, 2025 has amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to strengthen the regulatory framework for e-rickshaws and e-carts. The notification aims to improve safety, quality and standardisation of these vehicles, which play a crucial role in last-mile connectivity and public transport. The amendments, inter alia, focus on enhanced compliance requirements, including stricter norms for manufacturing, certification and operational standards. The initiative is broader push towards electric mobility and sustainable transport, promoting eco-friendly, affordable and accessible last-mile connectivity, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas. The Government in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified standards to address various aspects such as Construction and functional safety {AIS-038(Rev. 1)}, Safety Requirements for Electric Powertrain of Passenger and Goods Vehicles (M & N Category) and Rechargeable Electrical Energy Storage System {AIS-038 (Rev. 2)} etc. EV charging stations have been provisioned as mandatory facility in all Wayside Amenities (WSA) sites having area greater than 1 Ha. As on 20.03.2026, 116 WSA are operational in India, of which, EV charging stations have been commissioned in 68 nos. of WSAs across 9 States on the National Highways / Expressways. The Government in Ministry of Power has issued “Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure- 2024” in September, 2024. These guidelines, applicable to urban and rural areas, outline standards to establish an interoperable EV charging network. As per data available with Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), details of State-wise public charging stations installed across the country as on 28.03.2025 are at ANNEXURE. (b) Hyperloop is an emerging technology and is at nascent stage of development. The technical and safety parameters of Hyperloop are yet to be framed worldwide. As an initiative, Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), a unit under Ministry of Railways has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT/Madras on 22.09.2022 for setting up a Centre of Excellence for Hyperloop technology with the objective of development of sub scale model of Pod, Test Track & Vacuum Tube facility of the futuristic full scale Hyperloop at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras for validation of this technology. (c)&(d) Government announced National Ropeway Development Programme – Parvatmala Pariyojana in Union Budget 2022-23 for development of Ropeways to improve last-mile connectivity in hilly regions. The ropeway infrastructure is ecologically sustainable alternative in place of conventional roads in difficult hilly areas. The idea is to improve connectivity and convenience for commuters, besides promoting tourism. This may also cover congested urban areas, where conventional mass transit system is not feasible.ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3757 ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 25.03.2026 ASKED BY SHRI SANJAY KUMAR JHA REGARDING ELECTRIC MOBILITY FOR LAST-MILE CONNECTIVITY IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS State No. of Public Charging Station Andaman & Nicobar 4 Andhra Pradesh 614 Arunachal Pradesh 44 Assam 311 Bihar 393 Chandigarh 14 Chhattisgarh 290 Delhi 1,951 Goa 155 Gujarat 1,008 Haryana 808 Himachal Pradesh 114 Jammu & Kashmir 157 Jharkhand 277 Karnataka 5,879 Kerala 1,288 Ladakh 1 Lakshwadeep 1 Madhya Pradesh 942 Maharashtra 3,842 Manipur 50 Meghalaya 43 Mizoram 13 Nagaland 36 Odisha 550 Puducherry 42 Punjab 607 Rajasthan 1,285 Sikkim 11 Tamil Nadu 1,495 Telangana 976 Tripura 54 UT OF D&NH AND D&D 6 Uttar Pradesh 2,113 Uttarakhand 202 West Bengal 791 Grand Total 26,367 *****