Hyderabad should not face Delhi-like conditions; use EV vehicles, said Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar

A key meeting was held at Hotel Daspalla in Hyderabad by Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar with electric vehicle manufacturers and dealers. The meeting was attended by Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj, Transport Commissioner Ilambarti, JTC Ramesh, and representatives of various EV companies including Gopala Krishna, Suresh Reddy, and Gautam Reddy. Addressing the gathering, the minister stressed that Hyderabad must not face pollution levels similar to Delhi and urged greater adoption of electric vehicles. He stated that the government introduced the EV Policy under GO No.41 and has so far provided incentives worth ₹806.35 crore to 1,59,304 vehicles. Despite revenue loss, the government prioritized reducing pollution and protecting the environment. He added that Telangana’s Vision 2047 aims to achieve zero emissions and serve as a model for the nation.

The minister further explained that under GO No.263, considering the expansion beyond the ORR, the government approved 20,000 electric three-wheelers, 10,000 CNG autos, 10,000 LPG autos, and 25,000 retrofitted electric autos. Adequate charging stations and infrastructure will be developed across the city, including showrooms, petrol bunks, and public areas. He called on EV companies and dealers to actively participate in the Road Safety Month in January and create awareness among school children. The city is set to receive 2,800 electric buses, with 700 already operational, and 326 new RTC routes have been introduced. Reforms such as the scrappage policy, automatic testing stations, and removal of transport check-posts are underway. Emphasizing sustainability, the minister suggested gifting a sapling to every EV buyer and announced plans to convert at least 20% of government vehicles to EVs, urging companies to partner with the government in protecting the environment.