The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is poised to sign an agreement with Tata Power, a Mumbai-based company, to set up 40 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout the city. This initiative comes in addition to the 12 EV charging stations being established by Kolkata-based Snap-E. The proposal to partner with the Mumbai firm was approved during a mayor-in-council meeting.
Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, KMC will provide space at parking lots for Tata Power to install the EV charging stations. The Mumbai-based company has also formed a partnership with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and already begun setting up charging stations in various locations across Mumbai.
Tata Power has already installed over 3,000 public and semi-public charging points in 450 cities across the country. Additionally, Tata Power has partnered with several auto manufacturers in the production of EVs.
Regarding the charging fees, the details are still being finalised before the agreement is signed. However, it is anticipated that the firm will be permitted to charge vehicle owners INR 12-15 per kw-hour consumed, with a payment of INR 1.2 per unit to KMC.
For the Kolkata-based firm, charging station locations have been identified on 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 is actively searching for land in prime locations to ensure that motorists find it convenient to charge their vehicles.