logo
Ludhiana Municipal Corporation to launch 100 electric vehicle charging stations for sustainable urban transport

Ludhiana Municipal Corporation to launch 100 electric vehicle charging stations for sustainable urban transport

Time of India12-07-2025
In a major step towards
sustainable urban transport
, the
Ludhiana Municipal Corporation
(MC) plans to establish 100 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the city. With over 60,000 EVs already on the roads, the move aims at addressing the growing demand for accessible charging infrastructure.
Under the project, which is to be executed under a
Public-Private Partnership
(PPP) model, a private firm will be hired to install and operate the charging stations, while the MC will provide land for the installations. In return, the firm will share a fixed portion of its revenue with the civic body.
Before installation begins, the selected company will conduct a survey of major roads to identify suitable locations for the stations. A detailed list will be compiled to determine whether the land falls under the jurisdiction of the MC or whether it belongs to other departments. For locations outside city limits, land under
Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority
(Glada) will be considered.
MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal confirmed the development, stating, "We will soon float the Request for Proposal (RFP) to initiate the project. Having more EVs on the road will reduce pollution, making this a timely and necessary move."
The initiative comes at a time when rising fuel prices are pushing residents toward
electric mobility
. The popularity of
electric two-wheelers
and e-rickshaws is surging, and the city is also set to receive electric buses under the central government's
PM E-Bus Sewa scheme
. These developments further highlight the need for a robust charging network.
Currently, Ludhiana lacks sufficient mid-route charging options, which has been a concern for EV users. The proposed stations will not only support existing vehicles but also encourage more residents to make the switch to cleaner transport.
Once approved by the Finance and Contracts Committee, the RFP will be floated, and the groundwork for Ludhiana's
green mobility
future will begin.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

4,557 EV public charging stations installed on highways and expressways: Nitin Gadkari
4,557 EV public charging stations installed on highways and expressways: Nitin Gadkari

Time of India

time3 hours ago

  • Time of India

4,557 EV public charging stations installed on highways and expressways: Nitin Gadkari

A total of 4,557 electric vehicle (EV) public charging stations (PCSs) have been installed across a length of 146,342 km on the state, National Highways, and Expressways in the country, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Uttar Pradesh leads with 507 public EV charging stations, followed by Karnataka at 489, Maharashtra at 459, Tamil Nadu at 456 and Rajasthan at 424, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. "As per information available with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a total of 4,557 EV Public Charging Stations (PCSs) have been installed on the state/National Highways/expressways in the country," he said. The minister further stated that there is no scheme for providing incentives to the Charging Point Operators (CPOs). Meanwhile, 4,625 EV charging stations are currently operational in tier 2 cities in the country (as on April 1, 2025). The government recently said that with a financial outlay of Rs 2,000 crore, the PM E-Drive scheme will support the installation of approximately 72,000 EV public charging stations across the country. These stations will be strategically deployed along 50 National Highway corridors, within high-traffic destinations such as metro cities, toll plazas, railway stations, airports, fuel outlets, and state highways, the Ministry of Heavy Industries had said in a statement. The PM E-DRIVE scheme was launched in October 2024 to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) through demand incentives and expand EV charging infrastructure nationwide. The Centre has allocated Rs 10,900 crore for subsidies to EVs under this scheme. The Centre has also allocated Rs 873.50 crore towards the installation of 8,932 Electric Vehicle Public Charging Stations (EVPCS) by the three oil marketing companies (OMCs), namely IOCL, BPCL and HPCL, under the FAME-II Scheme . Earlier this month, the government launched a groundbreaking scheme to provide financial incentives for electric trucks (e-trucks) under the PM E-DRIVE initiative, with the maximum incentive set at Rs 9.6 lakh per vehicle.

Andhra govt fast-tracks revenue generating urban projects
Andhra govt fast-tracks revenue generating urban projects

New Indian Express

time11 hours ago

  • New Indian Express

Andhra govt fast-tracks revenue generating urban projects

VIJAYAWADA: The State government has ramped up efforts to accelerate revenue-generating urban infrastructure projects under innovative financing models to drive economic growth in line with the Swarnandhra Vision @ 2047. At a high-level review meeting at the Secretariat, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Principal Secretary S Suresh Kumar reviewed 30 key projects identified across various Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). These projects will be executed through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), and Viability Gap Funding (VGF) mechanisms to ensure financial sustainability and efficient urban service delivery. The projects cover vital sectors, including solid waste management with Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants, solar energy, industrial water supply, urban mobility, and commercial use of idle land. Approved projects include WTE plants in Nellore, Kakinada-Rajahmundry, Kurnool, and Kadapa; a treated water transmission system in Visakhapatnam; floating solar panels in Nellore; and commercial complexes in Guntur, Chittoor, and Kadapa. Other plans include a ropeway to Kailasagiri and the redevelopment of major bus stands to enhance tourism and public amenities. The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) will lead several landmark initiatives such as the East Coast Habitat Centre, a 50-storey residential tower, eco-cottages, a revolving restaurant at Kailasagiri, and a boat club at Gambhiram Lake. Suresh Kumar highlighted innovative land use to unlock urban asset potential.

Chandigarh MC approves up to ₹3,000 hike in community centre booking fee
Chandigarh MC approves up to ₹3,000 hike in community centre booking fee

Hindustan Times

time12 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Chandigarh MC approves up to ₹3,000 hike in community centre booking fee

After repeatedly deferring the agenda in the past four meetings, the General House of the Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC) on Tuesday approved a proposal to revise booking charges for all community centres across the city, but only after significantly trimming down the hike initially suggested by the civic body. The final booking charges, as approved by the House, were agreed by the councillors to get implemented from August 4, this year. (HT photo for representation) Instead of the three-fold increase proposed by the MC, councillors across party lines agreed on a nominal hike of ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 – depending on the category of the facility– in the booking fee. Under the revised rates, bookings for Category A community centres will cost ₹3,000 more, Category B ₹2,000 more, and Category C ₹1,000 more per booking. These categories are based on the facilities available at each centre. The civic body had initially recommended a sharp hike: increasing Category A rates from the current ₹24,000– ₹48,000 to a flat ₹60,000; Category B from ₹13,000– ₹24,000 to ₹40,000; and Category C from ₹5,000– ₹22,000 to ₹15,000– ₹30,000. However, councillors pushed back against the steep escalation. 'MC is already increasing booking rates by 10% every year. A sudden, massive jump would not be justified,' said Congress councillor Sachin Galav, who proposed a cap of ₹3,000 on the hike. His proposal was unanimously accepted by the House, with support from councillors across party lines. The final booking charges, as approved by the House, were agreed by the councillors to get implemented from August 4, this year. More beneficiaries added to free booking list The House also expanded the scope of free-of-cost bookings. As per the existing policy, families living below the poverty line (BPL) are already entitled to free bookings for weddings, provided their application is verified and recommended by their area councillor. Medical camps, blood donation drives, government events, RWA meetings, and events held by senior citizens' and pensioners' associations were also exempted from charges. To this list, councillors added new categories. AAP councillor Anju Katthyal demanded that families of martyrs be granted free use of the facilities for memorial events. Congress councillor Taruna Mehta requested exemptions for weddings of girls from families receiving direct benefit transfers (DBT). Both suggestions were accepted, and the House passed the revised proposal including DBT beneficiaries and families of martyrs as eligible for free bookings. However, for memorial and prayer meetings like rasam pagdi and kriya bhog, which were earlier entirely free, residents will have to pay 25% of the booking fee. Councillor-recommended bookings capped at 20 With councillors raising further suggestions for waivers, including for economically weaker sections (EWS), vendors, labourers, and families with a single girl child, MC commissioner Amit Kumar agreed to allow each councillor to recommend up to 20 free bookings annually, based on verification of the applicant's eligibility. 'Earlier, there was no capping on the number of free bookings being recommended by councillors. In some cases, the recommendations were around 30-40 bookings per councillor every year. This will now cap the maximum free of cost bookings in the centres, and will help the financially strapped MC to generate more revenue,' said MC officials. This comes in the backdrop of an alleged ₹100-crore community centre booking scam, which the UT's vigilance department is probing. EWS families are entitled for exemption-based booking on the area councillor's recommendation, however, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors had alleged there was a nexus of middlemen, who with the help of fake councillor endorsements and municipal staff, were manipulating the booking process to illegally charge poor families between ₹26,000 and ₹55,000 per booking.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store