By Ramesh Lamsal, Kathmandu, Sept 3: The policy adopted by the government to operate electric vehicles has come into implementation. The policy aims to reduce the dependency on petroleum fuel.

The private sector has brought the charging station for electric vehicles into operation with the objective of addressing this government policy.

Sundar Yatayat, a private sector public transport service provider, has operated the charging station. Moreover, it has also geared up to operate four electric buses in the capital from September 9.

Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Dinesh Kumar Ghimire inaugurated the charging station amidst a programme here today. On the occasion, Secretary Ghimire said the policy was to gradually reduce the importation of petroleum products and increasing the use of electricity produced in the country.

Chairman of Sundar Yatayat, Bhesh Bahadur Thapa said six vehicles can be charged at one time at the charging station that has come into operation from today.

According to him, a bus plying on the Ring Road consumed fuel worth Rs 4,000 daily whereas an electric vehicle uses electricity worth only Rs 700. This makes the transportation by electric vehicle cheaper and smooth.

Thapa shared that arrangement has been made to charge an electric bus for a fee of Rs 4.20 per unit of electricity. A three-phase electricity supply line has been managed by Nepal Electricity Authority for the charging station. However, for other electric vehicles operating public transport, Rs 4.80 per unit can be charged only after taking approval.

It is said additional 1,300 megawatts electricity would be available in the central grid by the end of the current fiscal year and the objective is to utilize it and boost the consumption of electricity.

The government has the policy of operating electric vehicles in the major cities including the capital Kathmandu and of displacing the LP Gas used at household level for cooking by electricity.

Mega hydroelectricity projects as Uppper Tamakoshi, a project of national pride, would be completed by the end of the current fiscal year. Similarly, more than a dozen projects developed by the private sector including Rasuwagadhi and Sanjen, among others will also be completed by the end of the current fiscal year. RSS