Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, in a late Monday evening meeting, called for a status report from the Transport Department within the next 10 days regarding the establishment of e-charging stations across the state. The move aims to encourage the use of electric vehicles (e-vehicles) in Himachal Pradesh, with plans to set up 107 e-charging stations, including 53 at petrol pumps and 54 through the Transport Department.
During the review of the proposed green corridor projects, the Chief Minister highlighted the government's approval for six green corridors, namely Parwanoo-Nalagarh-Una-Hamirpur-Sansarpur Terrace, Paonta-Nahan-Solan-Shimla, Parwanoo-Solan-Shimla-Rampur-Losar, Mandi-Jogindernagar-Palampur-Dharamshala-Kangra-Pathankot, and Kiratpur-Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Keylang-ZingZingbar. He sought updates on the tender processes for installing electricity transformers and the status of the green corridor tenders.
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu emphasized the phased replacement of diesel buses in the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) with e-buses, with plans to initiate the tender process for 300 new e-buses. The government is committed to reviving HRTC and prioritizing e-vehicles for environmental conservation.
Additionally, the Chief Minister announced the upcoming launch of the first phase of a startup scheme worth Rs. 680 crore to promote self-employment among the youth.In line with environmental conservation efforts, e-taxis will be employed in government departments, creating self-employment opportunities for unemployed youth.
The Chief Minister disclosed plans to hire e-taxis from local youth and is developing a website for e-taxi registrations. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena and Principal Secretary R.D. Nazim.
The government's commitment to promoting e-vehicles, establishing charging infrastructure, and fostering self-employment opportunities aligns with Himachal Pradesh's sustainable development goals.