NEW DELHI : After the state government directed the installation of kerbside electric-vehicle charging points, the Public Works Department has been identifying roads on which such points can be put up and found 55 roads not feasible for the project.
“The process of identifying roads for EV charging points is on. We are also giving the Dialogue and Development Commission and transport department the information they asked for in this regard,” said a PWD official. While 20 stretches have been identified for possible installation of charging points, PWD has ruled out 55 roads till date. These roads in North-East and North-West districts were not found feasible for the pilot project. One of the main factors deciding the feasibility or otherwise of the location is street parking capacity for cars to stop and charge without hindering road use.
More areas are expected to be identified for the rollout of the scheme. According to officials, eight nodal officers have been appointed to coordinate among DDC, transport department and PWD on the project.
DDC recently held a meeting with officials of the transport department, PWD and power distribution companies Delhi Transco Limited, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited, BSES Yamuna Power Limited and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited.
Delhi government feels that kerbside charging is an emerging concept globally and can make use of street lamp posts or dedicated charging points. PWD has approximately 1,400km of roads under its jurisdiction. There are around one lakh lamp posts. The state government plans to put up 5,000 kerbstone charging points across the capital over the next three years.
The pilot will aim at 100 kerbside chargers serviced equally by the power discoms. After EV chargers are installed on all major roads following the pilot, the deployment will be scaled across the city. Kerbside charging will provide convenient options for the e-vehicles, among them two wheelers and three wheelers. The target is specific because many reports suggest that the regular fuel-consuming two wheelers cause more air pollution than most vehicles in the city but that they occupy less space on the road.
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