Bhubaneswar: If things go well, a few strategic locations in the City will soon have at least seven electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, an official said Monday.
This was revealed during a virtual meeting held under the chairmanship of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner-cum- Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) CEO Sanjay Kumar Singh.
While seven such stations will come up in the City in the first phase, more such facilities will be added to the state Capital’s EV charging infrastructure in phases in accordance with the response.
“While two each EV charging stations will come up near KIIT in Patia area and Esplanade One mall in Rasulgarh area, locations near SUM Hospital, DN Regalia and Krishna Plaza at CRP Square will have one such charging facility each,” Singh said.
Malls, public parking lots, hotels, residential complexes, workplaces and highways are among the priority locations shortlisted for setting up of the EV charging stations as the set ups will be used by the public and public transport vehicles as well.
Sources said that the City is going to add a fleet of electric buses to its public transport network.
Market leaders in EV infrastructure in India like Energy Efficiency Services Limited General Manager (EV & EV Charging Infrastructure) N Mohan, Tata Power Company Limited Head (EV & Home Automation Business) Sandeep Bangia, Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Limited CEO M Shenbagam, senior officials from the state Energy and Commerce and Transport department, Odisha Principal Chief Electrical Inspector Santosh Das and BSCL General Manager Kamaljit Das among others attended the meeting.
Sources said that in a bid to achieve adoption of at least 20 per cent battery-operated electric vehicles in all vehicle registrations by 2025, the state government had August 27 approved the Odisha Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, 2021.
The policy also aims to promote manufacturing of EV and its components including battery in the state, promote innovation and facilitate research and development in the areas relating to EVs and battery.
The state government will extend financial incentives for manufacturing industries, buyers, along with interest subvention on loans, and waiving of road tax and registration fees during the policy period (five years). It will also give incentives under the Startup Policy.
Under the policy, Odisha government will give 100 per cent exemption in road tax and registration fees on EVs purchased within Odisha. The state will provide 15 per cent subsidy—a maximum of Rs 5,000 for two-wheelers, Rs 12,000 for three wheelers and Rs 1 lakh for four-wheelers—on the base price.
PNN