KMC to ink deal with Mumbai firm to set up 40 EV charging stations

KMC is set to enter into an agreement with Tata Power to set up 40 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the city. This is in addition to the 12 EV charging stations being set up by Kolkata-based Snap-E.

The proposal to tie up with the Mumbai-based firm was approved at a meeting of the Mayor's Council on Thursday.  Another one will be placed in front of KMC House later this month.

Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, KMC will provide space in the parking lots where Tata Power will set up EV charging stations. According to a civic official, joint venture partner KMC has also tied up with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and started setting up EV charging stations at several locations across Mumbai.

"We are in talks with KMC to set up EV charging stations in Kolkata. We will be excited to strengthen our presence in the city. We look forward to helping the country achieve its goal of a rapid transition to green mobility," a Tata Power spokesperson said. Tata Power has so far installed more than 3,000 public and semi-public charging stations in 450 cities. It has also partnered with car companies producing EVs.

According to an official of the KMC car parking department, the civic body was shortlisting a suitable plot of land near its parking lots to hand over to a private firm for EV charging stations as soon as possible. "We want to ensure that the joint venture partner can start setting up charging stations without delay. The facilities will be operational as soon as they are built," a civic official said, adding that all stations should be operational by the end of the year. 

As per the modalities that are being worked out before the contract, the firm may be allowed to charge car owners Rs 12-15 per kilowatt unit consumed by the charging vehicle and will pay KMC Rs 1.2 per unit.

For the Kolkata-based firm, the civic official said, they have identified locations of charging stations at Rabindra Sarani, Chittaranjan Avenue, AJC Bose Road, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, CIT Road, Kyd Street, Rabindra Sarobar and Paharpur Road (Garden Reach). The civic body, he added, was looking for land at prime locations, so motorists thought it appropriate to let the vehicles be charged.