In an effort to promote usage of environment-friendly battery-operated vehicles in the city, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is planning to set up “charging stations” for electric vehicles at several locations in NDMC areas.
A proposal to make the charging stations operational on the public-private partnership (PPP) mode has been sent to the NDMC chairman for approval, sources said. “Once we get the green signal from the chairman, it will be sent to the Delhi Government for approval as no-objections from the transport department and the Delhi Traffic Police would be necessary,” a senior official said. As per the proposal, officials said, 65 locations have been identified for the project.
The number of battery-operated vehicles in the city, especially e-rickshaws, has witnessed a sudden jump over the past few years.
The demand for paid charging points for such vehicles, on the lines of fuel and gas stations, is growing, especially after the Union Government recently gave green signal to the battery-operated rickshaws.
This is the second attempt on part of the municipal body to implement the project.
A similar proposal was turned down by the autonomous transport and traffic planning body Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure Planning and Engineering after the Delhi Government’s transport department opposed the move. The officials are hopeful of pushing the project through due to the increasing number of electric vehicles and the subsequent increase in demand for such facilities.
Once in place, all types of battery-powered cars, three-wheelers, and scooters would be able to use the charging stations.
“The private firm will set up and operate the charging stations at the designated sites under the NDMC jurisdiction.
Advertising rights will also be given to the private firm to earn money, apart from what it will generate from the charging stations,” said an NDMC official.
The charging rates would, however, be fixed by the operator in consultation with the civic body, officials said.
