Six Chandigarh-run electric vehicle charging stations come up in city; ‘40 by June-end’ | Chandigarh News
The Chandigarh administration finally made six electric vehicle charging stations functional in the city a year and a half after launching the electric vehicle policy, having the provision of charging stations.
For people intending to charge their vehicles at these stations, Rs 8 per unit will be charged for slow or moderate charging, Rs 10 per unit will be charged for fast charging and Rs 11 for battery swapping. These six charging stations are located at Sector 7, 43-B, 44-C, 44-D, Manimajra and Lake Sports Club. These six charging stations are among the proposed 53 stations that were to be made entirely functional by March-end.
A formal announcement for the same was made, but to date, only six have been made functional, though the deadline was missed.
A senior official of the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) said by June-end, other 34 charging stations would also be made operational — thus the city will have 40 charging stations ready. The city has, however, about 20 charging stations.
The Chandigarh administration had in September 2022 announced the electric vehicle policy, but failed to work on the infrastructure it was supposed to provide to the people with electric vehicles.
The administration even started restricting the registration of fuel-based vehicles after achieving the “set targets” in the said year. This was despite the UT not setting up any infrastructure to facilitate the EV owners. On the day of the announcement of the electric vehicle policy, the UT had promised to set up 100 public charging stations but nothing was done.
After protests by automobile traders and residents, the UT Administrator in November last year had to stall the target-based registrations of electric vehicles.
In the absence of infra facility, people owning electric vehicles either had been charging their vehicles at private charging stations or home.
Citizens said they were being compelled to buy a particular vehicle, even as the supply was limited and the high cost pinched.
The EV charging stations are being set up at Rock Garden parking, Lake Club parking, Multi Level parking in Sector 17, opposite Parade Ground in Sector 22, near Passport Office in Sector 34, at several locations in Sector 17, Japanese Garden, parking area of Car Bazar, etc.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 24-05-2024 at 08:57 IST
