The real estate sector has welcomed the draft policy of electric vehicle (EV) which makes charging points mandatory in parking areas of residential, commercial and other public parking lots. However, it also expects some benefits to be provided in the form of tax rebate, additional parking space for E-Vehicle charging points in a bid to create such infrastructure.
Dr Niranjan Hiranandani, National President, NAREDCO said, "The shift from fossil fuel driven to electrical vehicles is a positive move, and augurs well for the ecology. It will result in a paradigm shift, effectively giving sustainable real estate development a fillip, as EV charging points will now be included in the common amenities of housing societies as also new projects which come up.”
He said the installation of EV charging points will not be flat specific; and obviously, will add to the common utilities cost, but not that much as would make a major difference to the home buyer. “The eco-friendly future of travel will be by EVs, and when fossil fuel driven vehicles are replaced by EVs, the advantage will obviously be to the home buyer, and will be felt across the environment, especially in terms of pollution created by vehicles."
Manju Yagnik, Vice Chairperson, Nahar Group and Senior Vice President, Naredco, Maharashtra said the state policy to make compulsory special parking provision for EV charging points in upcoming residential property projects is a welcome move and will have all the support from the construction industry. "MCGM should approve additional parking spaces especially for EV and the EV charging point infrastructure over and above designated to the flat buyers. Also, the government needs to give some special incentives to both developers and buyers to make EV a preferred choice when it comes to transport. This policy will help to bring down carbon emissions and slowly decrease the dependence of cars on fossil fuels," she suggested.
Reportedly, the state transport authorities in a webinar had disclosed the plan of draft policy to encourage Electric Mobility, which is at approval stage. However, the officials highlighted that one of the major concerns for EV owners would be the recharging of the vehicle’s lithium-ion batteries, which act as fuel. Therefore, necessitating the provision of charging points at all parking lots is believed to boost the demand for EVs.
When Maharashtra Transport Commissioner Avinash Dhakne was asked about the mandatory E- Vehicle charging points in parking areas, he replied, the draft policy is with the state government. In previous Free Press Journal news reports on EV draft policy was quoted, as "One of the primary concerns is setting up good infrastructure for supporting electric vehicles and their charging systems. Having them in housing societies and in public parking lots is a challenge." Meanwhile he also asserted that the state government is open to suggestions from the public at large on it.
