Navi Mumbai: With electric vehicle use increasing across the city, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) is set to open eight public charging stations in the first phase of its EV infrastructure rollout. Four stations each in Zone 1 and Zone 2 will be made operational, offering a total of 48 charging points under a public-private partnership model, reports The Times of India.
The initiative aligns with the central government’s push to promote electric mobility, curb air and noise pollution, conserve energy, and cut greenhouse gas emissions, with a national goal of achieving at least 30% electric vehicles by 2030. NMMC commissioner Kailas Shinde said the state government adopted the EV policy in February 2022, while NITI Aayog has set a target of ensuring 80% of two-wheelers and three-wheelers are electric by 2030.
Shinde said the corporation conducted a survey to identify suitable locations within city limits, including lay-bys, malls, municipal offices, the civic headquarters, wedding halls, parks, parking areas, and bus terminals. The city was divided into 1 sq km grid clusters, each initially planned to include six charging stations. Due to space limitations, the proposal was revised to five stations per cluster, resulting in a plan for 24 clusters with 143 charging points near high-traffic public areas.
The first eight stations are being set up by agencies such as Kay Bee Batteries Private Limited, Road Grid India Private Limited, and Delta Electronics India Private Limited, which will install the infrastructure at their own expense.
According to a civic official, the corporation will earn ₹4 per kilowatt-hour from the charging stations and will use ₹2 crore from the 15th Finance Commission’s air-quality improvement fund for million-plus cities.
Shinde said the corporation will offer rent-free space with lighting at all charging stations for advertisements, receive a share of the ad revenue, and allow display boards highlighting various government schemes. Where space permits, agencies may also set up kiosks selling packaged food and drinking water with prior approval from the corporation.
