NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The Indian Railways will install electric vehicle (EV) charging points at all major stations throughout the nation over the course of the next three years, according to a new policy to promote e-mobility.
Railway stations in megacities with a population of more than four million each will be used for the first phase of the installation of charging points for electric vehicles.
According to a document, the Indian Railways envisages the installation of EV charging stations in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, and Surat by December 2024, the report stated.
As the Indian Railways aims to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2030, the move aims to reduce the use of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles for internal use by 2025.
The railways have reportedly put forth a two-pronged strategy, one of which focuses on EV adoption and the other on the expansion of accessible and affordable charging infrastructure at Railway stations.
All major cities with a population of more than a million people and the remaining megacities will be included in the second phase of the plan, which will come to an end in December 2025.
The Indian Railways will install the EV charging stations on the remaining stations by December 2026, based on feasibility studies by the zonal railways on a case-by-case basis.
According to the report, the EV charging points will either be set up through a budgetary grant with the zonal railway owning the stations, or, under the developer mode. Under the developer mode, EV charging points will be installed by the investments of charge point operators, with a license rent payment to the railways.
