No ban on autos, two-wheelers; power subsidy to continue: Minister – The Hindu

File image of autorikshaws in Delhi
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Refuting media reports, Transport Minister Pankaj Singh on Tuesday (April 15, 2025) said there will be no ban on autorickshaws or two-wheelers or any other vehicles in Delhi. The Minister also said that the existing Electric Vehicle (EV) policy has been extended. 

The decisions were taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta earlier in the day. “No auto, scooter, or any other vehicle will be banned in Delhi and will be allowed to run,” Mr. Singh said at a press conference after the cabinet meeting. 

Power Minister Ashish Sood said that the existing power subsidy for domestic consumers, farmers, lawyers with chambers, and victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots will continue. “The extension of the subsidies has put to an end a malicious campaign (by the AAP) that subsidies are going to be stopped. Today’s decision is a symbol of this commitment. Those people will keep spreading lies, but the Delhi government will work at its own pace and expose all these lies with time,” Mr. Sood said. 

In the run up to the Assembly election, the AAP had attacked the BJP by claiming that the BJP will end power subsidies if they come to power and the BJP had assured that they will continue all the existing schemes, including the power subsidy. 

Earlier this month, there were media reports that the draft policy lays down that two wheelers running on petrol, diesel, CNG will not be allowed from 15 August, 2026. Also, no diesel, petrol, CNG three-wheeler registration will be allowed in case of goods carriers, from August 15, 2025.

The EV policy was extended multiple times by the AAP government and was extended for 15 days till April 15 by the BJP government too. Mr. Singh said that discussions are going on about a draft EV policy.

“The previous government did not release the subsidy amount on EV purchase, due to which those consumers have not been able to get their rights till date. Till the new EV Policy 2.0 is made, the old EV policy will remain in force. The aim of the Delhi government is to ensure a better and world-class public transport system in the capital, so that the common citizens do not have to face any kind of inconvenience,” Mr. Singh said.