SHILLONG, Sep 3: In the midst of an earnest push for transitioning from fuel to electric vehicles over environmental concerns, Meghalaya has taken a step forward in this revolution with the foundation stone for the first-ever electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) being laid here on Friday.
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Power, has laid base for the station at its office complex in Lapalang.
The foundation stone was laid by AK Thakur, Member Secretary, North Eastern Regional Power Committee (NERPC), in the presence of RK Tyagi, Executive Director, North Eastern Regional Transmission System, POWERGRID, and N Roy, Chief General Manager (I/C), North Eastern Regional Load Dispatch Centre, POSOCO.
POWERGRID had participated in the Expression of Interest (EoI) floated by Department of Heavy Industry (DHI), Government of India, based on the consent of Meghalaya government.
The EVCS are being developed under Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles (FAME) India Scheme Phase-II.
Under this scheme, POWERGRID will develop as many as 11 EVCS in Shillong (five public and six at government establishments).
Each station will have four units of 15 kW DC-001 chargers and a 100 kW CCS-2/CHAdeMO Charger (dual gun), making it 66 units of charging points in Shillong.
Out of the 11 locations, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed for four locations which include POWERGRID Office Complex at Lapalang, MTC Ware House at Demthring, MTC parking lot at Police Bazaar and Polo parking lot.
The Government of Meghalaya, vide its order dated February 5, 2021, has issued the Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy for the state which came into effect from April 1, 2021.
The government came up with the EV Policy with an aim to adopt at least 15 per cent electric vehicles (EVs) in the state by 2025 amongst many others.
Under this policy, the early adopters will get purchase incentive such as subsidy of Rs 10,000 per kWh for first 3500 electric two-wheelers, purchase subsidy of Rs 4,000 per kWh, etc., for first 2,500 four-wheelers subject to ex-factory price cap as per the EV Policy. Other benefits include waiver of registration cess and road tax and priority registration for electric vehicle during currency of existing EV Policy period of five years.
POWERGRID has its presence in major cities of India like Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bengaluru, Gurugram and Kochi in terms of transitioning into EVs.
“The available vehicles in the market can also be charged at the EVCS in Shillong and citizens should avail the opportunity to shift to a more environment friendly vehicle option wherein pollution caused by IC Engine could be eliminated,” the POWERGRID said in a statement issued here.
