The Department of Heavy Industry has given an EoI, Expression of Interest. It invites public sector undertakings, PSUs, government organizations, state-owned distribution companies, and other public and private companies to build and run charging stations for electric vehicles.
The proposals include building the infrastructure along some of the significant expressways connecting the metro cities of India. It has Mumbai-Pune, Ahmedabad-Baroda, Delhi-Agra-Lucknow, Bengaluru-Mysore, Bengaluru-Chennai, and Surat-Mumbai. Other highways include Delhi-Srinagar, Delhi-Kolkata, Agra-Nagpur, Meerut-Gangotri Dham, Mumbai-Delhi, Mumbai-Panaji, etc.
The Government of India is planning to support the EV charging infrastructure development under Phase-II of the Fame India Scheme. It would extend the capital grant to organizations for using electric vehicles.
Notably, the centre has approved the Phase-II of FAME, Faster Adoption, and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India for three years since 1 April 2019.
Government of India May Offer Waivers for Electric Vehicles
Earlier this week, the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, leading the state government of Delhi, exempted road tax for battery-operated vehicles. As per reports, the government may further waive the registration fees for electric cars as well. Notably, the measure was outlined in the government’s EV policy announced in August.
In August, the Delhi Government, led by CM Arvind Kejriwal of Aam Aadmi Party, announced the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2020. The move aims to curb the air pollution threat in the nation’s capital by rapidly adopting battery-operated automobiles.
Furthermore, the government stated that it would also waive registration fee, road tax, and an incentive of up to 1.5 lakh INR for electric cars and up to 30,000 INR for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and freight automobiles.
Arvin Kejriwal added that the government would also offer low-interest loans on e-commercial vehicles. There are several other measures in the policy that may boost the EV sale in India’s capital.
