Kolkata sees a spurt in EV sales as electric vehicles continue to outpace traditional diesel-powered vehicles across the city’s major registration hubs. The strongest sign of this green mobility transformation has emerged at the Public Vehicles Department (PVD) in Beltala, Kolkata’s largest vehicle registration center.
The growing popularity of electric vehicles reflects India’s broader clean energy mission and the central government’s push toward sustainable transportation. The urgency around reducing dependence on petrol and diesel has increased further following the West Asia conflict, which prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call for a sharp cut in fossil fuel consumption.
Diesel Vehicle Registrations Continue to Decline
The Beltala PVD has recorded a consistent fall in diesel vehicle registrations over the last few years. In 2022, the office registered 2,854 diesel vehicles. By 2025, the number had dropped significantly to 2,075 units. The declining trend has continued in 2026, with only 875 diesel vehicles registered till April 30.
At the same time, Kolkata sees a spurt in EV sales through a sharp rise in registrations of battery-operated and pure electric vehicles.
In 2022, Beltala registered 824 battery-operated vehicles (BOVs), while no pure EV registrations were recorded during that year. However, the market changed dramatically by 2025, when the office registered a total of 3,724 electric vehicles, including 532 BOVs and 3,192 Pure EVs. This figure far exceeded diesel registrations during the same period.
The momentum has remained strong in 2026 as well. Between January and April, Beltala registered 1,729 Pure EVs and 28 BOVs.
Petrol Vehicles Still Dominate the Market
Despite the rapid EV growth, petrol-powered vehicles still hold the largest share in Kolkata’s automobile market. In 2025, Beltala recorded 19,651 petrol vehicle registrations. By April 30, 2026, another 3,260 petrol vehicles were added.
Industry experts believe the city could witness even faster EV adoption if Kolkata develops a stronger network of fast-charging stations across urban and suburban areas.
Behala and Salt Lake Also Witness EV Growth
The green mobility shift is not limited to central Kolkata. Other regional transport offices, including Behala and Salt Lake, are also witnessing rising EV registrations.
In Behala, diesel vehicle registrations slightly declined from 472 units in 2022 to 457 in 2023. Meanwhile, EV registrations surged to 942 units in 2025, including 195 BOVs and 747 Pure EVs. Notably, no EV registrations were recorded at the Behala RTO in 2022.
This year, till April 30, Behala registered 676 EVs compared to just 191 diesel vehicles, further proving that Kolkata sees a spurt in EV sales across multiple transport zones.
Salt Lake RTO also reported significant growth in green vehicle registrations. Diesel registrations stood at 1,496 units in 2025 compared to 1,524 in 2022. However, EV registrations rose from zero to 1,339 units, including 255 BOVs and 1,084 Pure EVs.
Hybrid Vehicles Gain Popularity in Salt Lake
Salt Lake has additionally emerged as a growing hub for hybrid vehicles. The RTO registered 278 Strong Hybrid vehicles in 2025 and another 131 units during the first four months of 2026.
Meanwhile, Kasba RTO showed a different pattern. Diesel registrations increased from 1,370 in 2022 to 1,613 in 2023. However, EV registrations there also rose significantly from zero to 1,309 units during the same period. Till April 30 this year, Kasba registered 627 electric vehicles.
The latest data clearly indicates that Kolkata sees a spurt in EV sales as consumers increasingly shift toward cleaner and more sustainable transportation options across the city.
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