Surat – In a pioneering step towards sustainable urban mobility, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) will launch the country’s first Green Vehicle Policy on September 17, 2025, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday. The initiative aims to promote the use of eco-friendly vehicles by offering significant incentives on electric, hydrogen, and bio-fuel vehicles.
Under the policy, buyers will receive direct benefits ranging from Rs 3,000 on an e-bike priced at Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 1 lakh on an e-car costing up to Rs 25 lakh. Additionally, 10 percent of parking spaces at municipal parking facilities will be reserved exclusively for green vehicles, while citizens using such vehicles will also be exempted from environmental charges. Registration of e-rickshaws will be prioritized to help reduce pollution levels in the city.
SMC Commissioner Shalini Agrawal highlighted that nearly 30 percent of Gujarat’s registered e-vehicles are in Surat, accounting for 2.5 percent of the country’s total. With the implementation of this new policy, the number of eco-friendly vehicles in the city is expected to rise significantly.
As per agency report, one of the most notable features of the policy is that it extends beyond electric vehicles, offering incentives for hydrogen and bio-fuel-based vehicles as well. Plans are also underway to introduce hydrogen-powered buses as part of a pilot project.
The policy has been developed with support from the Government of India, the Government of Gujarat, and international agency GIZ. Surat had previously set an example by becoming the first city in the country to operate a 100 percent electric bus fleet on its BRTS corridor. With this latest initiative, the city is positioning itself not only as a clean city but also as a leading green city in India.
