The West Bengal government has taken a bold step to combat rising pollution levels in the state. In a move to reduce fuel emissions from automobiles, the government has decided to use only electric vehicles for all administrative functions. This decision also applies to vehicles taken on rent by the administration. The state Transport Department has issued a notification outlining the new policy. According to the notification, the government has estimated the monthly expenditure for renting electric vehicles to be Rs 46,000 for the first 100 kilometers. For every extra kilometer, it will cost Rs 8. The notification also allows for exceptions in case of emergencies, where petrol or diesel vehicles can be hired with prior permission from the state Finance Department. A senior Finance Department official highlighted the need for this shift to prevent the increasing air pollution caused by fuel emission, particularly from diesel vehicles. Environment activists in the state have welcomed the decision, seeing it as a positive step towards reducing pollution. However, private transport owners’ associations have expressed concerns about the lack of proper infrastructure to support the initiative in the long run.