Tourists coming to Himachal Pradesh in electric vehicles and staying in Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) hotels can now avail free charging of vehicles at the hotel itself.
The HPTDC has already installed electric vehicle charging stations at 14 hotels across the state, including Hotel Holiday Home, Peterhoff and Willy’s Park Circuit House in the state capital Shimla, for the occupants.
“We are preparing to facilitate the tourists with the charging of electric vehicles in line with the state government’s policy to promote e-vehicles in the larger interest of the environment. Any tourist, who comes in an e-vehicle and stays in the HPTDC hotel will be provided a free of cost charging of the vehicle.
While this is an added facility for the tourists preferring HPTDC hotel, the Corporation will also benefit,” said Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director, HPTDC.
He said within two months all 56 hotels run by HPTDC in Himachal Pradesh will have e-vehicle charging stations facility free of cost for occupants.
The first 14 hotels that have charging stations installed for e-vehicles include Pinewood (Barog), Meghdoot (Kiarighat) Baghal (Darlaghat) and Shivalik ( Parwanoo) in Solan district, Chanderbhaga (Keylong) and Spiti (Kaza) in Lahaul Spiti district, Apple Blossom (Fagu) in Shimla district, Manimahesh (Dalhousie) in Chama district, Nupur (Nurpur) in Kangra district and Himachal Bhawan in Chandigarh.
The charging point has also been installed at Hotel Yamuna (Paonta Sahib) in Sirmaur district and marking is being done.
A move that has won appreciation from the environment activists also, Himachal Pradesh aims to make Himachal Pradesh a green energy state by March 31, 2026.
Among other environment-friendly initiatives, the state government prohibited all government offices from purchasing petrol or diesel vehicles from January 1, 2024. The government will purchase only electric vehicles henceforth and has decided to develop six highways in the state as green corridors, to promote e-vehicles.
Besides, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister recently announced a subsidy on e-taxis and e-buses to the unemployed youth in Himachal. Under this scheme, the unemployed youth of Himachal Pradesh, above the age of 23 years, would be given a 50% subsidy on loans to purchase e-taxis and e-buses with no collateral guarantee.
The e-taxis would be attached to various government departments and a monthly income of Rs 40,000 would be ensured for them, said the Chief Minister.
The e-taxi scheme was launched under the first phase of Rs 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Yojana of the state government.
The government plans to replace the fleet of around 3000 diesel buses of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) in a phased manner to finally go for e-buses even for long routes.
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