All 53 electric charging stations at 32 locations would be functional by March-end, claimed Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit two years after the Electric Vehicle (EV) policy was rolled out for the Union Territory (UT).
Purohit’s assurance on Thursday came after reports of people facing inconvenience in the absence of charging stations reached him. “I assure that all the charging stations will be functional by March end and this is my promise,” the administrator said.
It is the CREST (Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society) that is setting up the charging stations at 32 locations under the Municipal Corporation (MC) in the city.
The ‘City Beautiful’ in September 2022 had announced the Electric Vehicle policy, but it failed to work on the required infrastructure. The UT administration had even begun to restrict 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.
After protests by automobile traders and residents, the UT administrator in November last year had to stall the target-based registrations of EVs.
As per the promise made in September 2022, the first 23 public charging stations of the 53 that Chandigarh had set up continued to lie non-operational. Not just this, on the day of the announcement of the EV policy, the UT had promised to set up 100 public charging stations but nothing was done in this regard.
In the absence of any infrastructure, those owning electric vehicles either had been charging their vehicles at private charging stations or at home.
Residents had even complained that Chandigarh Administration was “forcing” them to buy e-vehicles. The high cost of such vehicles also becomes a major factor for residents’ less enthusiasm towards owning them. Citizens had stated that they were being compelled to buy a particular section of EVs even as the supplies from the back end were limited.
Locals had also that lower working class, which earns around Rs 15,000-20,000 a month and finds it hard to make ends meet, could not afford a Rs 1.5 lakh EV scooter — which the UT Administration was pressing for. Following this, the Chandigarh administrator urged the officers to first set up the required infrastructure and lift the ban on registrations of fuel-based vehicles before encouraging EVs in Chandigarh.
Where are charging stations being set up
These stations are being set up at key locations of the city, including one at Rock garden parking, and Lake club parking. Multi-level parking at Sector 17, opposite parade ground at Sector 22, Sector 23, near passport office in Sector 34, several locations in Sector 17, and Japanese garden are some of the other major locations for installing charging points.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 09-03-2024 at 08:21 IST
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