The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday cleared the Maharashtra Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2025 under which the government will offer financial incentive aggregating to Rs 11,373 crore over a period of five years to incentivise EV manufacturing, adoption and developing charging infrastructure in the state. The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, also cleared the aggregator policy to regulate app-based transportation operators like Ola, Uber and Rapido.
The newly adopted Maharashtra EV Policy 2025 that will be in force until March 31, 2030 replaces the previous 2021 policy that expired in March 2025. Under the new policy, the government will bear a financial burden of Rs 11,373 crore over a period of five years. Aimed at encouraging mass EV adoption across every vehicle segment — two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, buses, commercial vehicle fleets — the policy also focuses on creating a strong public and private charging infrastructure in urban, rural areas, and alongside important highways. Under the policy, charging points would be installed at every 25-km segment on state and national highways.
In a bid to reduce the cost of EV adoption, the policy provides direct purchase incentives. While electric two, three, and non-transport four-wheelers, STU buses will receive a maximum subsidy of 10 per cent of the base cost of the vehicle, goods carriers, agricultural use electric tractors, and large capacity passenger vehicles will be subsidised up to 15 per cent. In another move that will ease adoption, all EVs registered in the state under the policy period will also be exempt from motor vehicle tax as well as registration/renewal charges.
The policy also aims to spur industrial and research development in the EV industry through various incentives for local production, battery recycling, and skill building. One of the major environmental goals is the development of a ‘Clean Mobility Transition Model’, which will reduce 32 tonnes of PM 2.5 and 1 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector by 2030.
To promote cleaner city-to-city transport, all four-wheeled passenger EVs and buses plying on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, Mumbai–Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg, and the Shivdi–Nhava Sheva Atal Setu will be free of charge for toll. A 50% concession on toll will be given on other national and state highways under the Public Works Department.
With regard to infrastructure, the government will collaborate with oil marketing companies to provide all highways’ existing and new fuel stations with EV charging points, depending on technical feasibility. STU bus depots and terminals will also have fast-charging units.
“The new EV Policy is geared towards increasing both the production and uptake of electric vehicles. It has provisions for passenger EV subsidy and exemptions on toll charges on certain roads and highways for select EVs. Improving the charging infrastructure is also a high priority,” Fadnavis said.
App aggregator policy
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Apart from the EV policy, the cabinet also approved an aggregator policy to govern app-based transportation operators like Ola, Uber, and Rapido. The policy has been drafted according to a Supreme Court directive and suggestions by a high-level panel led by retired IAS officer Sudhir Kumar Srivastava.
As per the new regulations, the aggregators will have to obtain proper licences and adhere to various safety and technical requirements that include real-time GPS tracking of vehicles, emergency contact integration, background checks for drivers, passenger and driver insurance, and having an efficient grievance redressal mechanism.
Aggregator apps and websites also have to comply with cyber security standards under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Significantly, the policy has a dedicated provision for women passengers who prefer ride-pooling — they can opt for women-only modes of travel, both in the form of drivers and fellow-travelers.
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A comprehensive rulebook for enforcement of the policy will be issued separately so that app-based mobility services are subject to a system that protects commuter interests while fostering urban mobility innovation. This policy applies to all app-based transport aggregators which function mainly in the urban areas.
Taken together, the EV Policy 2025 and the aggregator policy reflect the state government’s efforts towards cleaner, safer, and smarter transportation solutions.
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