Delhi CM inaugurates 25 new EV charging stations

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi inaugurated 25 new low-cost Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations across the National capital on Wednesday.

According to the official statement by the chief minister’s office, the stations are managed by Delhi Transco Limited. With the new stations inaugurated, there are a total of 78 charging stations managed by the company.

During the inauguration, both the CM and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia unveiled the plaque, inspected the facilities, and interacted with officials to understand the station’s functioning. After the inauguration, the CM highlighted how the government is working “exceptionally well” for the development of the national capital.

“The Delhi government is often recognized for its achievements in education and health, such as the Mohalla Clinics. But today, the inauguration of 25 new low-cost EV charging stations across various parts of Delhi is proof that, under the guidance of Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi government is working exceptionally well across all aspects of the city’s development.”

She added, “For the past 7-8 years, Delhi has been facing severe pollution problems, especially during October, November, and December when pollution levels spike. When the pollution crisis began, Arvind Kejriwal stated that while crop stubble burning outside Delhi might be a major factor during November-December, Delhi would take every possible step to combat pollution.”

CM Atishi emphasized the success of Delhi’s EV policy, launched in 2020: “Delhi was one of the first states to introduce an EV policy, offering subsidies, road tax exemptions, and the nation’s best charging infrastructure. Today, Delhi boasts over 2,400 charging points where EVs can be charged at the lowest rates in the country. This robust infrastructure is why 12% of all newly registered vehicles in Delhi are electric.”

Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was also present during the inauguration, and called them as the “power banks of modern Delhi.”

“These charging stations, which we are calling power banks, might appear small with just two power plugs, but they lay the foundation for a modern Delhi. This is a part of the vision under Arvind Kejriwal’s guidance. Back in 2020, when I was in the Delhi government, we dreamed of encouraging people to shift towards electric vehicles for new cars, scooters, and bikes,” Sisodia said after the inauguration.

Highlighting that the government has encouraged the adoption of EVs in the national capital too Sisodia added, “We dreamed of a gradual transition where a significant percentage of newly purchased vehicles in Delhi would be electric. For this, we created policies, brought in some of the best minds in the country, and set up a team to execute this vision.”

Talking about the EV policy of the national capital, he said that around 12 pc of all new vehicle purchases are EVs.

“When we created the policy, we set a target that by 2025, 25% of all new vehicle purchases in Delhi would be electric. I am happy that despite all the disruptions caused by certain authoritarian tendencies – akin to Aurangzeb’s oppressive style of governance – where dissent is silenced, we achieved 12% of new vehicle purchases being electric today,” he said.

Referring to the government’s ambitious EV policy, Manish Sisodia shared, “Our goal is to have 80% of people choose electric vehicles, which comes with challenges. The government’s role is not to fight with people but to tackle challenges. With leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi, the focus will always be on overcoming obstacles, not internal conflicts.”

He emphasized, “Nations with honest, educated, and visionary leaders have ensured clean air for future generations. Today, some countries have 80-85% of their newly purchased vehicles as electric. This transformation happened because people elected educated leaders who implemented these plans.”

He also thanked the people of Delhi for electing the “most educated Chief Minister.”

“While I cannot speak for other nations, I thank the people of Delhi for electing an IIT graduate and former IRS officer. Despite conspiracies, Delhi now has the most educated Chief Minister. Educated leadership ensures Delhi moves forward and tackles modern challenges with innovative solutions,” he added.