The government has plans to implement the first phase of its much-awaited electric vehicle (EV) policy by April next year.

Ambuj Sharma, additional secretary at Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, has said that he expected the Cabinet to give all the required approvals before April.

Speaking on the topic, he said, "We want to get all the approvals from the Cabinet before April. The main budget would come only in June-July post elections." He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of 4th SIAM Diesel Conference on Thursday.

He added that the government earmarked nearly Rs 12,000 crore as subsidy for manufacturers of electronic vehicles. The subsidy will be given for the next six-seven years, starting 2014.

Government's support in form of subsidy is expected to encourage automakers to boost the production of environment-friendly vehicles. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) recently announced that it would refrain from introducing new electric vehicles in India in the absence of subsidy from government.

In 2012, the government had approved electric and hybrid vehicle projects worth Rs 23,000 crore that will take place over the next eight years. The government aims to have 6-7 million electric vehicles on roads across the country by the end of current decade.