Government think-tank NITI Aayog has asked at least seven ministries to frame guidelines to encourage the use of electric vehicles (EVs), Mint has reported.

The move comes about a month after India dropped its plan to have an EV policy. “There is no need for any policy now,” Nitin Gadkari, minister for road transport, said at a press briefing last Thursday. The minister had earlier said that an EV policy had been drafted by the NITI Aayog and was awaiting the cabinet’s approval.

Although the government plans to continue supporting adoption of EVs in the country, it will not be in the form of a policy.

According to the daily, the ministries selected for the task are are those of heavy industries, power, new and renewable energy, road transport and shipping and highways, earth sciences, urban affairs and information technology.

NITI Aayog’s role in the process will be limited to reviewing and monitoring the whole process and to working out solutions in case of overlaps between guidelines prepared by different ministries.

“We would have to get back to them (NITI Aayog) after a fortnight or so. Once every ministry concerned comes up with rules in their own domain, then NITI Aayog may put it as an action plan or consolidated guideline for electric vehicles,” a senior official was quoted by the daily as saying.

While the road transport ministry will prepare guidelines on non-fiscal incentives, public transportation and last-mile connectivity, the power ministry will work on framing rules for charging infrastructure, the report says.

“It is a welcome move from the NITI Aayog and some kind of action plan or guidelines will be enough for the industry to move ahead with electric mobility,” said International Finance Corp electric mobility project head Suvranil Majumder.

“There has to be some synergy between certain ministries of the government when it comes to dealing with certain aspects of electric mobility,” he added.