Green Drive – Delhi Launches Portal to Support 70 Lakh Sapling Mission
Green Drive – Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday introduced the Green Drive Portal at the Delhi Secretariat, expanding the capital’s plantation campaign under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative. The programme is intended to support the government’s target of planting 70 lakh saplings across Delhi.
The Chief Minister called on residents to take part in the effort, saying public participation would be essential to making Delhi cleaner, greener and healthier. The portal is expected to help people connect with plantation activities and access support for tree-planting drives in different parts of the city.
Vriksh Rath teams to assist local plantation efforts
A key part of the campaign is the Vriksh Rath initiative, through which trained teams from the Forest Department will help organise plantation activities. These teams will visit homes, educational institutions, housing societies and other suitable locations to assist residents and organisations.
Officials said the teams will provide saplings, required equipment and technical guidance to ensure that plantation work is carried out properly. The initiative is designed to make it easier for communities to participate, particularly in areas where people may not have access to planting material or expert advice.
The “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024 to encourage people to plant trees in honour of their mothers. The campaign focuses on increasing green cover and promoting environmental responsibility among citizens.
New EV policy notified in Delhi
The plantation initiative comes as the Delhi government moves ahead with another major environmental measure. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Gupta announced that the city’s new Electric Vehicle Policy had been notified in the Gazette, formally bringing its provisions into effect.
The policy aims to increase the use of electric vehicles and reduce pollution caused by conventional fuel-powered transport. It includes financial support for buyers of electric vehicles and removes road tax and registration charges for eligible EVs priced below Rs 30 lakh.
According to the Chief Minister, buyers of electric two-wheelers will receive a government subsidy of Rs 30,000. Electric three-wheelers will be eligible for a subsidy of Rs 50,000, while buyers of N1 category vehicles, commonly used as small commercial carriers, can receive support of up to Rs 1 lakh.
Roadmap announced for new petrol vehicle registrations
The Chief Minister also addressed concerns about whether existing petrol vehicles would face restrictions. She said there would be no immediate ban on vehicles that are already registered and operating in Delhi. Owners can continue using their petrol vehicles until the end of their legally permitted validity period.
However, the government has set timelines for limiting future registrations in certain categories. Registration of new petrol three-wheelers is scheduled to stop from January 2027. New petrol two-wheelers will no longer be registered from April 2028.
The government has said the phased approach is meant to give vehicle owners, manufacturers and businesses adequate time to adapt to the transition towards cleaner transport options. The policy seeks to reduce dependence on internal combustion engine vehicles while supporting the wider adoption of electric mobility in the capital.
Policy remains valid until 2030
The Delhi government approved the Delhi EV Policy 2026 on Monday, and it came into force on July 1. The policy will remain operational until March 31, 2030.
With the Green Drive Portal and the electric vehicle policy now in place, the government is pursuing parallel measures focused on expanding tree cover and reducing vehicular emissions. Both initiatives form part of Delhi’s broader efforts to improve air quality and strengthen environmental action across the city.