Goa exempts electric vehicles from road tax

Panaji, January 16: Transportation, as well as less pollution, is every state’s responsibility. Keeping this in mind, Goa exempted electric vehicles from paying road tax. This will to create awareness and expedite the use of electric vehicles in the state.

Nikhil Desai, Transport Director, Goa, said, “This is an attempt to control pollution by promoting electric vehicles.” This comes after the state registered only eight to ten electric vehicles last year. Goa is one of the few states in the country to exempt electric vehicles from road tax.

In Goa, road tax on the car is calculated as 11 percent on the cost of the car. For instance, an electric car costing Rs 10 lakh in Goa would incur a tax of 11 percent, which totals up to Rs 1.10 lakh. The exemption of road tax will certainly make buying EVs more affordable.

According to a notification by Goa government which says that “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of Section 11 of Goa, Daman and Diu Motor Vehicles Tax Act, 1974 (Act 8 of 1974), the government of Goa exempts electric operated vehicles (EOVs) from the payment of tax. The notification shall come into force from the date of its publication in the official gazette.”

The idea to make EVs tax free is a step in the right direction, but the need of the hour is better infrastructure and more charging stations across the state and the country as a whole.