The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has issued a tender to establish 50 electric vehicle charging stations under a 10-year public-private partnership to strengthen the city’s green mobility infrastructure. Electric vehicles now account for six per cent of the city’s vehicle registrations and the corporation has adopted a user-pays revenue model intended to make the project self-sustaining. The scheme is presented as part of a strategy to transition Ludhiana towards a low-carbon transport hub.

The tender is open only to central and state public-sector undertakings and the selected organisation will deliver the project. Work includes installation of AC and DC chargers, modular battery swapping points, digital integration with mobile applications, QR and RFID authentication and online payment systems. Stations must incorporate safety measures such as fire provisions, CCTV, weatherproof enclosures and drainage. The civic body will provide land and coordinate with power distribution companies for a stable energy supply.

Under the commercial model the municipal corporation will receive a minimum of Rs 1 per kilowatt-hour dispensed. Additional revenue is expected from advertising and space premiums, with a 50-50 split between the concessionaire and the corporation. The user-pays structure and mixed income streams are intended to support financial viability and reduce capital burden on municipal finances. Planned hubs will include IoT-enabled battery lockers and solar-integrated roofs where feasible, aligning with central government incentives to encourage electric mobility.

Officials described Ludhiana as a high-traffic strategic hub where existing infrastructure trails growing demand from cars, two-wheelers and commercial vehicles. The tender is intended to address that gap and to accommodate rising adoption of electric vehicles while supporting services for fleets and individual owners. Delivery by a public sector undertaking is expected to streamline coordination with state agencies and strengthen the charging and battery services ecosystem.