Latest news with #Shivashankar
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
After no bidders, govt drops plan to set up 2.5k EV charging stations
Bengaluru: Citing poor response from private agencies, Karnataka has scrapped an ambitious plan to set up 2,500 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the state under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. As an alternative, the govt has tasked Bescom with setting up 100 EV charging stations. Bescom will have to fund the estimated Rs 35-crore project. The decision was formalised through a govt order issued on June 16, following a detailed report from the managing director of Bescom, the project's nodal agency. N Shivashankar, Bescom MD, said the agency floated tenders six times but failed to attract bidders. "No one showed interest," he said. "Bescom will now continue to set up EV charging stations to encourage purchase of EVs in the state." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru He said "many" EV charging stations were established under the PPP model in Bengaluru and that Karnataka currently leads the country with 5,879 EV charging stations as of March 28, 2025. Over 4,000 of these are in Bengaluru alone. The failed 2,500-station project was originally announced in the 2024-25 state budget. A previous attempt in 2023-24 to set up 585 stations in nine districts also fell through despite work orders being issued to select bidders in Oct 2023. In 2024-25, tenders were floated again to establish 605 stations across 22 districts, but no interest was shown in 18 districts and only one bidder came forward in the other four. In his report, Shivashankar cited five key reasons for the project's failure including lack of support from govt departments in helping private firms secure land. "The departments concerned did not cooperate with private agencies that received work orders to get required land for charging stations," he states. Additionally, limited EV penetration beyond Bengaluru was identified as a major deterrent. "The use of EVs is still not up to the mark in the state except in Bengaluru city. So private individuals did not turn up to establish charging stations," Shivashankar states.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Solar-integrated, second-life battery powered EV charging station inaugurated in Bengaluru
What is being termed as the first-of-its-kind solar-integrated EV charging station, powered by second-life batteries, in India, was inaugurated near Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on June 2. Energy Minister K. J. George, who inaugurated the facility, said that this is the first EV station in India to be powered by second-life batteries. 'This large-scale EV charging hub, developed through a partnership between Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), can charge 23 vehicles simultaneously. At this station, solar energy is stored in old car batteries. Solar power generated during the day is stored using this battery system, and supplied to electric vehicles round-the-clock,' he explained. The hub includes a 45 kilowatt (KW) solar power system and 100 KWH second-life battery storage capacity. It has 18 fast-charging points and five slow-charging ones. 'This is the first charging station in the country to provide 24/7 EV charging facilities,' said N. Shivashankar, Managing Director, Bescom. The Energy Minister said that the government is fully committed to support the growing demand for EVs in Karnataka, and expanding charging stations and related infrastructure. 'Karnataka's EV policy further strengthens this commitment. The newly-inaugurated EV charging station will greatly benefit cab drivers and the general public using electric vehicles,' he said. The charging station, which was awaiting inauguration for almost a year now, has been operational for the last few months.
Hans India
03-05-2025
- Hans India
City residents fume with rage over garbage burning
Hyderabad: The increase in garbage burning and illegal dumping in the city is alarming. Residents are voicing their concerns about open burning in various localities, especially with rising temperatures leading to significant fire hazards. Despite the risks and recent fire incidents, the practice persists. With the rising heat, the threat of major fires looms larger, prompting residents to call on the GHMC's sanitation department to take action. They urge for regular garbage collection instead of allowing it to pile up. Although burning garbage is against the law and carries hefty fines, both citizens and sanitation workers continue to flout these regulations without fear. Residents and activists alleged that instead of picking up the garbage, the sanitation workers are burning it, resulting in immense pollution. 'In recent times, the city has witnessed back to back massive fire accidents. And both residents and GHMC workers with their lackadaisical attitude lit the fire in waste,' said Shivashankar, a resident of Ameerpet. In many incidents, the Fire department was urgently called to extinguish flames. Venkateshwarlu, a Saidabad resident, expressed concern over the irregular collection of waste by Swachh auto tippers, leading to significant garbage accumulation on the streets. With rising complaints about mosquitoes, the overwhelmed sanitation staff resort to burning the trash. Similarly, Shahid Ali from Chaderghat reported that on Thursday evening, a sanitation worker ignited a fire in the garbage beneath the Chaderghat flyover, which quickly escalated. 'We promptly notified the Fire Department to prevent a major disaster, and they arrived swiftly to bring the situation under control,' he added. Despite the Telangana State government's ban on garbage burning implemented in 2017, areas such as Nagole, Uppal, Yousufguda, Balanagar, Amberpet, Kukatpally, Malakpet, Chaderghat, Santosh Nagar, Yakutpura, Kondapur, Miyapur, Manikonda, Gachibowli, and many others across the city continue to witness this harmful practice without any noticeable improvement. Mohammed Ahmed, a social activist, emphasised that in Telangana, burning waste is considered a serious offence that can result in a hefty fine of up to Rs 25,000. Unfortunately, due to the irregular collection of garbage by municipal vehicles, the corporation's own employees have resorted to burning the waste. Additionally, he highlighted the alarming practice of openly burning trees that were recently felled by officials throughout the city. Moreover, on social media platforms, when the netizens raised the issue on X, posting about the burning of garbage, there was no response from them. 'However, on repeated complaints, the concerned GHMC officer responded with a reply that 'the fire has been doused',' one Siddiq posted on X.
