Going green will become easier in the Capital, with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) planning to install “charging stations” for electric vehicles at 65 locations in NDMC areas.
All types of battery-powered cars, three-wheelers and scooters can use the charging stations. “It will be a public-private partnership project. The private firm will install and operate the charging stations at 65 designated sites under NDMC jurisdiction,” said an NDMC official.
The successful bidder will also be allowed to operate electric three-wheelers in NDMC areas, the official said. Such vehicles will help provide “last mile” connectivity from residential areas and markets to nearby Metro stations. Advertising rights will also be given to the private firm to earn money, apart from what it will generate from the charging stations.
“The rates for charging electric vehicles will be decided after consulting NDMC,” the official said. Some locations chosen include Metro stations in NDMC areas, Connaught Place Inner and Outer Circles, some areas near the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, and near major buildings such as Central Secratariat, Nirman Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan and Shastri Bhawan.
The charging stations will also be installed at important landmarks such as India Gate, Birla Mandir and Gole Dak Khana, apart from some sites near five-star hotels, Sarojini Nagar market and Yashwant Place.
According to NDMC officials, the entire project must be completed in 36 months from the date of acceptance by the successful bidder.
“The firm will also have to install at least one prototype station within two months from the date of acceptance. Subsequently, one station should be installed every month,” said an official.
The charging station will occupy 600 sqft; it will have different slots for charging vehicles, parking and advertisements.
However, the proposal needs to be cleared by the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure Planning and Engineering, an autonomous agency within the DDA that has the power to clear or block any major transport projects in the Capital having road engineering or infrastructure implication.
