Big housing complexes must reserve space for charging electric vehicles: NKDA law
Kolkata: New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has proposed mandatory reservation of 20 percent space in big housing complexes to charge electric vehicles.
The NKDA is bringing changes in the building rules incorporating the new provision.
Plots measuring more than two hectares will be bought under the purview of the new law. It may be mentioned that 10 AC slow-charging points have been installed by NKDA at various parts in New Town between October 2018- July 2019 and revenue worth
Rs 19,450 have been generated as a result.
In addition, the Indian Oil COCO (Company Owned, Company Operated) fuel pump also has two charging facilities.
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has proposed eight new DC fast chargers at locations including Eco Park Gate 1, Eco Park Gate 4, Tata Medical Centre, Eco Space and Axis Mall. A high-level meeting was held between senior officials of NKDA headed by Debashis Sen its chairman and
EESL last week to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding to install additional electric vehicle charging stations in New Town.
It has been decided that NKDA/HIDCO will give permission to install the DC Fast Charging Units to EESL.
The installations will be made by EESL. NKDA/HIDCO will arrange for power connections. Revenue earned through charging will be shared with NKDA/HIDCO. Vehicles will pay parking charges as applicable. Hidco is operating three electric buses and three more are being planned to put in service and for this, charging stations with high speed DC chargers are installed at three locations of New Town. "Charge Anxiety", which is panic-striken condition that charge will be exhausted on road before reaching the destination or next charging point, often affects users of electric vehicles.
Sen, who uses EV (E2O) for over a year, told the officials of EESL how he had to keep an eye on the charge dial while on road. To encourage people to use more and more EVs to reduce air pollution and global warming, it is necessary to have EV chargers at frequent intervals.
