Charging units for commercial EVs to be on Chandigarh outskirts

The Chandigarh Renewal Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST) and the Municipal Corporation will explore the feasibility of installing charging station for electric commercial vehicles on the city outskirts.

A decision in this regard was taken during a meeting of the Standing Committee of Administrator’s Advisory Council on Transport held recently.

Committee chairman Vijay Pal Singh stated that electric autos should have designated battery swapping and charging points set up at the entry points of the city. A proper survey must be conducted to identify suitable locations for these stations. This would ensure that electric autos were not parked haphazardly in the city for charging purpose. “Such a system will help maintain smooth traffic flow within the city,” he said.

The UT has so far installed 35 EV charging stations. Additionally, 11 battery swapping stations have been set up for commercial EVs.

The chairman also highlighted encroachments in parking areas by street vendors, adding that it was increasing day by day. He said the vendors should be removed. An inquiry be conducted to identify officials, who allowed vending in parking spaces, and action should be taken against them, he added.

On public transport services, the Transport Director said 80 of the 438 buses plying in the Tricity were electric. All 358 diesel buses would be replaced with electric vehicles by the next financial year.

A representative of the Chandigarh Transport Association said land should be acquired at the earliest in Daria where new Transport Area was planned as per the Master Plan-2031. There was also an urgent need for an underpass at Transport Chowk to reduce traffic congestion as well as to provide a free access to commercial vehicles to ply between the Transport Area and the Industrial Area, said the association representative.