Bhubaneswar: In a major move to promote environment-friendly transportation, Odisha government has waived permit fees for battery-operated (electric), methanol-fuelled and ethanol-fuelled transport vehicles operating in the state.
According to a notification issued by the Commerce and Transport Department, eligible vehicles will continue to require the appropriate permits under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, but no permit fee will be charged for issuing such permits. However, the fee exemption will not apply to goods vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of less than 3,000 kg.
The government has clarified that the waiver is limited to permit fees and does not exempt vehicle owners from complying with other statutory requirements. Eligible vehicles must have valid registration and insurance and, wherever applicable, fitness and pollution-under-control certificates. Owners must also comply with other applicable taxes, fees and regulatory requirements. The initiative is aimed at encouraging greater adoption of cleaner-fuel vehicles in the state and reducing vehicular pollution. The government expects the permit-fee waiver to provide an additional incentive for the transition towards electric and alternative-fuel-based transportation in the state.
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