(ET)
Uttar Pradesh has invited expressions of interest (EoIs) from companies to set up charging stations for electric vehicles, the first state to do so after the Union power ministry issued guidelines for such facilities last December to create the infrastructure that will enable widespread use of the less polluting autos.
Delhi is perhaps the only city where such charging stations are available currently. The Centre’s guidelines are directed at faster adoption of of electric vehicles in states such as Uttar Pradesh by ensuring safe, reliable, accessible and affordable electric charging infrastructure. Uttar Pradesh has identified eight cities, according to the EoI document that was issued on June 6 and seen by ET. These are Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Agra, Noida, Prayagraj, Ghaziabad and Meerut.
It also wants them on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, the Delhi-Agra Expressway and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, as well as the proposed Purvanchal Expressway from Lucknow to Ballia that’s under construction. Three major national highways passing through the state —NH-1, 24 and 27—have also been earmarked for this. Charging at homes or offices will be permitted through electricity distribution companies, the EoI said.
