Himachal Pradesh government has achieved a historic milestone with the operationalisation of the Kiratpur-Bilaspur-Mandi-Kullu-Manali-Keylong green corridor.
The corridor will have seven electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS), set to be officially inaugurated shortly. Electric vehicle owners travelling from Shimla towards Keylong will also benefit from these stations.
The charging stations set up at Ghandal, Daseran near Darlaghat, Nauni near Bilaspur, Jadol, Ner Chowk bye pass, Kullu (opposite Bhutnath temple bridge), and Keylong aim to facilitate EV owners in their journey towards a more sustainable mode of transportation.
Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in his maiden budget speech had announced to set-up six green corridors across the state to boost the adoption of electric vehicles (EV).
Sukhu said efforts are underway to make the remaining five green corridors fully operational.
Six declared green corridors encompass key routes like Parwanoo-Nalagarh-Una- Hamirpur-Dehra-Amb-Mubarakpur-Sansarpur Terrace-Nurpur; Paonta-Nahan-Solan-Shimla; Parwanoo-Solan-Shimla-Rampur-Peo-Pooh-Tabo-Kaza-Losar; Shimla-Bilaspur-Hamirpur-Kangra-Nurpur-Banikhet-Chamba; Mandi-Jogindernagar-Palampur-Dharamshala-Kangra-Pathankot; and Kiratpur-Bilaspur-Mandi-Kullu- Manali-Keylong-Zingzingbar.
Sukhu said the transport department had initiated tenders for the establishment of 45 additional EV charging stations along the five other proposed green corridors.
The state government is offering a 50% subsidy to private operators for setting up these stations, emphasising the importance of identifying suitable locations for convenient access to charging infrastructure, he said.
The CM said the impact of global warming was clearly visible and there was a need to take preemptive steps to curb the problem. That’s why state government is committed to transform Himachal Pradesh into a ‘Green Energy State’ by March 31, 2026 and various measures have already been implemented, including the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Startup Yojna, providing a 50% subsidy on the purchase of e-taxis, e-buses, and e-trucks, he added.
Sukhu said the government had also imposed a ban on the procurement of diesel/petrol vehicles in the public sector from this year. The promotion of e-vehicles reflects the government’s dedication to sustainable transportation, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and position Himachal Pradesh as a leader in green energy for a cleaner and healthier future, he said.
