Ahmedabad's EV Infrastructure Push Meets Roadblocks
As Ahmedabad gears up to host the prestigious Commonwealth Games in four years, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is intensifying efforts to establish a robust network of public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. However, this initiative, which has been in the works for five years, is encountering significant obstacles in its implementation.
Approved Sites Fall Short of Initial Targets
The AMC originally aimed to set up EV-charging stations at 81 strategic locations across the city to promote clean mobility and reduce air and noise pollution. Unfortunately, approval has only been granted for 27 of these sites so far. Out of these approved locations, 21 stations are currently operational, while work is actively progressing at the remaining six stations.
In a recent development, proposals for four additional locations have received the green light, bringing the total number of approved sites to 31. Despite this incremental progress, a major concern remains: no private company has expressed interest in establishing stations at 50 of the originally proposed 81 locations.
Incentives and Policy Support
To encourage greater adoption of electric vehicles among private users, the AMC is offering a 100% exemption on vehicle tax. This incentive is part of a broader strategy to highlight the lower maintenance costs of EVs compared to traditional vehicles. On a state level, the Gujarat State Electric Vehicle Policy, announced in 2021, provides subsidies ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 1.50 lakh for both EVs and charging infrastructure.
The city's first public EV-charging station was established near Kankaria Gate No. 2 in 2021, featuring one regular charging point and two fast-charging points. Similar installations followed at Kankaria Kids City and the Navrangpura multilevel parking facility. It was after these initial successes that the AMC identified the 81 potential sites for expansion.
Tender Processes and Private Sector Hesitation
On February 29, 2024, the AMC issued tenders for installing public EV-charging stations, with a pre-bid meeting held on March 7, 2024, that saw participation from representatives of 17 companies. Based on feedback from these companies, the tender deadline was extended, and lease terms were revised to make the proposals more attractive.
The technical bids were opened on May 9, 2024, with four companies participating and three qualifying. Subsequently, on June 13, 2024, the standing committee approved proposals from two companies to set up stations at 27 locations. However, when tenders were issued for 54 locations in December 2025, only one company applied, expressing interest in just four sites.
Challenges in Public-Private Partnership Model
An AMC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that private companies are reluctant to participate in the public-private partnership model due to insufficient land rent discounts. The official further explained that the concept of public EV-charging stations has not gained popularity in Ahmedabad because electric vehicles remain scarce in the city.
This lack of interest from the private sector poses a significant challenge to the AMC's vision of creating a comprehensive EV-charging network ahead of the Commonwealth Games. The corporation continues to explore solutions to make the projects more viable for potential partners while maintaining its commitment to promoting sustainable transportation options.
