KMC is set to enter into an agreement with Tata Power to set up 40 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the city. This is in addition to the 12 EV charging stations that are being set up by Kolkata-based Snap-E.
The proposal to tie up with the Mumbai-based firm was passed in the mayor-in-council meeting on Thursday. It will next be placed before the KMC House later this month.
According to the conditions of the joint venture agreement, KMC will provide space at parking lots, where Tata Power will set up EV charging stations. According to a civic official, the KMC’s joint venture partner has also tied up with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and started setting up EV charging stations in several locations across Mumbai.
“We are in discussion with KMC on establishing EV charging stations in Kolkata. We will be thrilled to be able to strengthen our presence in the city. We look forward to helping the country achieve its goal of a swift transition to green mobility,” a Tata Power spokesperson said. Tata Power has so far installed more than 3,000 public and semi-public charging points across 450 cities. It has also partnered with auto companies manufacturing EVs.
According to a KMC car parking department official, the civic body was in the process of identifying suitable land close to its parking lots that would be handed to the private firm for the EV charging stations as soon as possible. “We want to ensure the joint venture partner can start setting up charging stations without delay. The facilities will be operational as soon as they are built,” said the civic official, adding all stations should be up and running by the end of the year.
According to the modalities that are being worked out before inking an agreement, the firm may be allowed to charge car owners Rs 12-15 per kilowatt unit consumed by a vehicle being charged and it will pay KMC Rs 1.2 per unit.
For the Kolkata-based firm, the civic official said, they had identified charging station locations on Rabindra Sarani, Chittaranjan Avenue, AJC Bose Road, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, CIT Road, Kyd Street, Rabindra Sarobar and Paharpur Road (Garden Reach). The civic body, he added, was scouting for land in prime locations so that motorists found it convenient to get vehicles charged.
