In a bold move to curb air pollution and encourage clean transportation, the Punjab government is offering up to Rs. 100,000 to citizens who replace their petrol bikes with electric ones. The initiative, part of the Chief Minister’s Green Credit Program, isn’t just a handout—it’s a performance-based incentive aimed at promoting actual use of electric vehicles, not just one-time purchases.
The Deal: Buy an E-Bike, Get Paid in Two Phases
Here’s how it works.
Anyone who buys a brand-new electric motorcycle after December 2024 is eligible to apply. But this isn’t just a rebate at the time of purchase—you’ll need to prove ownership and actual usage.
To start, you’ll need to register through the government’s official Green Credit portal and submit:
- Purchase date
- Bike’s brand and model
- Registration and chassis numbers
- A copy of the registration book
- Clear photos of the electric motorcycle
Once your application is reviewed, a government representative will visit to verify the information. If everything checks out, you’ll receive Rs. 50,000 as the first installment.
The Catch? You Have to Ride It
To unlock the remaining Rs. 50,000, there’s one condition: you must clock 6,000 kilometers within six months of registering the bike.
Tracking this isn’t based on trust—the government requires you to install and connect the official Green Credit mobile app to your vehicle. This ensures that the distance is monitored in real time. Once you hit the milestone and your usage is confirmed, the second installment is transferred to your account.
This staged payout is designed to prevent people from purchasing e-bikes just to collect the reward, then abandoning them. Instead, it encourages real, sustained use of electric vehicles on Punjab’s roads.
Why This Matters
The scheme is a key part of Punjab’s strategy to reduce emissions from the transport sector. For this fiscal year alone, the government plans to phase out 2,000 petrol motorcycles and 250 fossil-fueled vehicles, targeting a reduction of 8,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Looking ahead, Punjab’s ambition is even larger: by 2030, the province wants 30% of all vehicles on the road to be electric, aiming for a 20% cut in total transportation emissions.
Important Restrictions
There’s a major eligibility clause: only brand-new, factory-built electric bikes qualify. If you’re thinking of converting your old petrol bike with an electric kit—don’t. Retrofitted bikes are not covered under this scheme.
