Inviting private players, TNGECL to roll out EV charging stations at key Chennai hotspots amid tariff concerns.
The Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) has invited bids to set up EV charging stations in Chennai. The stations will be built at nine locations under a Build, Own and Operate (BOO) model. This project aims to boost public EV charging infrastructure in the city.
According to the tender, selected charge point operators will be responsible for the design, engineering, installation, commissioning, and long-term maintenance of the charging stations. Each site must feature a minimum of three chargers: one for light EVs such as two- and three-wheelers, and two 22kW AC chargers for four-wheelers, aligning with Ministry of Power guidelines. Operators are permitted to install up to five chargers per site.
The proposed locations include Ashtalakshmi Temple, Besant Nagar Beach, Mangal Lake Park (Ambattur), Corporation Playground and Somasundaram Ground (T. Nagar), Semmozhi Poonga (Cathedral Road), Marina Beach, Bougainvillea Park (Anna Nagar), and Nageswar Rao Park (Mylapore). Land for the stations will be provided by the GCC, while the highest bidder offering a fixed rate per unit of electricity sold to TNGECL will secure a 10-year contract.
However, the move comes amid growing concerns from industry stakeholders over the state’s rising electricity tariffs. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) recently hiked fixed monthly charges for EV charging stations, making operations costlier. With LT–VII category rates increased from Rs 79/kW to Rs 165/kW and HT–V from Rs 145/kVA to Rs 304/kVA, Tamil Nadu now has the highest fixed charges for EV stations in India.
