From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Sep 13: The State Cabinet on Wednesday approved a new ‘Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy 2017’ aimed at making mandatory charging facility for vehicles in all high rise buildings such as IT parks, SEZs, malls and apartments in Karnataka.
The policy proposes to make amendments to building by-laws for providing mandatory charging infrastructure in all high rise buildings such as IT parks, SEZs, malls, and apartments.
The policy aimed to attract investments of Rs 31,000 crore and create employment opportunities to 55,000 persons both from supply and demand side; and to provide opportunities for developing R & D in electric mobility.
Karnataka’s Ministry of Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development headed by R V Deshpande drafted the policy in consultations with major stakeholders and industrial bodies.
The policy would make the State a preferred investment destination for manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs), Deshpande said.
The policy envisages investment subsidy for setting up BIS standard, EV charging stations/infrastructure in private properties, public places including airports, railway stations and metro stations.
A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) involving City’s civic agencies like BBMP, BMTC, BESCOM, KREDL and KIADB would be mooted for creation of more Charging infrastructure in Bengaluru City.
It also proposes to establish working groups with supporting grants for development of necessary technologies from concept to market in the areas of Drive technologies; Battery technologies; Charging infrastructure and network integration; standards and certification; materials and recycling; quality and training etc.
Start-ups would be encouraged to develop business models focused on supporting economic applications for electric vehicles.
It also seeks to commission the ‘Karnataka Electric Mobility Research and Innovation Centre’ in Karnataka and extend necessary support to make it a world class research hub.
It proposes to set up a EV skill development centre in collaboration with the industry for up skilling the work force to augment the manpower required for the EV industry
Attractive Incentives and Concessions in line with the Industrial Policy 2014-19 to EV manufacture sector, battery manufacturing, charging equipment enterprises throughout the State including Bengaluru District.
Talking about the policy, the minister said "I am very happy to announce the launch of the much awaited Electric Vehicle Policy for the State. The development and formation of this path breaking policy has been a combined effort of the government and key industry players through roundtables organised by Carnegie India and a series of workshops held during the last four to five months”.
"I am sure that this policy would be a game changer in the Industry and will be a model for other states. Our real work starts now on focussing on developing a ready ecosystem for a vibrant electric vehicle sector in the State to ensure the success of this policy by providing all the required government and infrastructure support needed by the service providers, operators and facilitators," Deshpande added.