Pune Embraces Electric Vehicles with 10,000 Registrations and 15 Charging Stations
Pune, 30th November 2023: According to data from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Pune, the city currently boasts 10,000 registered electric vehicles (EVs). In a strategic move to support the growing trend, the Pune Municipal Corporation has operationalized 15 charging stations across its jurisdiction.
Originally proposing 86 such stations, the Pune Municipal Corporation aims to foster the adoption of EVs. The total count of electric vehicles registered in Maharashtra has reached an impressive 1,50,000.
The strategically located charging stations include prominent spots like Savarkar Bhavan, Ganesh Kala Krida Manch, Bibwewadi ward office, PL Deshpande Udyan, Ghole Road ward office, Tilak Road ward office, Peshwe Park, Gultekdi parking, Navloba Parking, and the PMC main building. Notably, some of these locations feature two charging stations.
Shrinivas Kandul, the head of PMC’s electrical department, highlighted the civic body’s proactive role in setting up these charging stations. “The PMC has chosen accessible locations for the charging points to encourage the use of electric vehicles,” he stated.
The future plan of the civic body involves extending e-charging stations to public parking spots, gardens, civic offices, and municipal school premises. The aim is to install approximately 500 EV charging stations in the city over the next few years.
“The upcoming stations will each host three charging points, totaling 1,500 points. This includes provisions for two-wheelers and four-wheelers, with dedicated spaces for EVs to queue up. Vehicle owners will have the flexibility to choose between slow or fast charging,” revealed a civic official.
The initiative aligns with the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) scheme, launched in 2015. Designed to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and address vehicular emissions, Phase II of the scheme is currently underway, spanning five years from April 1, 2019, with a total budgetary support of Rs 10,000 crore.
