Patna: In a bid to support the growing number of electric vehicles (EVs), around 48 public charging stations will be set up across Patna and nearby urban areas. The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) and several Nagar Parishads have identified suitable sites and forwarded them to the transport department for final approval under the PM E-Drive Scheme.Transport department experts will inspect the proposed locations before clearing them for installation. The department had sought land from civic bodies to develop a network of EV charging stations across the state capital.Similar proposals have been submitted by Nagar Parishads in Naubatpur, Paliganj and along the Gaya-Masaurhi road. Officials said the stations are aimed at ensuring uninterrupted travel for EV users venturing outside city limits.“The objective is to eliminate range anxiety among EV users. If a vehicle’s battery runs low outside Patna, users will be able to recharge it at designated public charging stations,” a transport department official said. All 48 stations will offer paid charging facilities for private and commercial electric vehicles.Officials said users will be charged on an hourly and per-minute basis, with rates varying according to vehicle type. However, electric buses and heavy commercial vehicles will not be covered in this phase of the project.“Such vehicles require high-capacity chargers and dedicated transformers for high-voltage power supply, which are not part of the current plan,” an official explained.Patna DTO Upendra Kumar Pal said proposals for around 58 locations were initially sent to the transport department. “Some sites were found unsuitable during inspection, while others are awaiting approval. Nearly 48 locations are likely to be cleared for the project,” he said.The proposed stations are planned at high-footfall and transit points across the city, including areas near Pink City Marriage Hall, Kulharia Complex, P&M Mall basement, Subhash Park, Ambedkar Bhawan, Nala Road, Arya Kumar Road, Machhua Toli, Malahi Pakri, Medanta Hospital, Lohia Nagar Park, JP Setu, Marine Drive Golambar and Janardan Ghat.Final locations will be confirmed after technical inspections by the transport department.
