Hundreds of electric autorickshaw drivers in Kozhikode are facing operational problems due to lack of public charging stations. The problem remains largely unsolved, even as private and taxi vehicles switch from petrol and diesel to electric power, in line with proposals by central and state governments to combat air pollution and reduce dependence on imported fuel.
A few charging points mounted on lampposts, which were installed earlier by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), are non-functional. According to officials of the autorickshaw drivers’ unions, currently less than 10 such charging points are operational in Kozhikode city, a number they say is far below the actual requirement.
“There are nearly 2,500 electric autorickshaws in operation in Kozhikode city alone, and the lack of available charging facilities is affecting daily traffic and undermining the government’s stated goal of promoting pollution-free public transport,” says TV Noushad, an autorickshaw driver and an official of the Kozhikode auto-taxi workers union. He points out that memoranda submitted to the Minister of Electricity and Minister of Public Works six months ago have received no response.
According to Mr. Noushad, the drivers’ unions approached the ministers directly on the recommendation of the KSEB, citing the technical problems they faced in opening new charging stations. The project will become a reality only with the approval of the KSEB, which requires final clearance from the state government, they claim.
Association drivers in various trade unions point out that the KSEB could easily use the vacant spaces under flyovers to install new charging points. These spots are said to provide safe places for charging devices and allow drivers to park without impeding traffic or pedestrians.
KB Rjeevan, an autorickshaw driver from Pavangad, says many drivers are opting for electric vehicles because they believe assurances from local authorities and the state government that adequate charging infrastructure will be in place within a few years. Now many are in a situation where they are cutting their trips short because they are missing the promised provisions for several years.
The fear of running out of energy on the road has also prompted some private vehicle owners to campaign for more accessible public charging points in the private or cooperative sector. Mahesh Chathoth, a tourism entrepreneur from Mavoor, says fully equipped charging stations should be promoted in the private or cooperative sector with government help to tackle the crisis. While there are several such charging stations in the state, the limited number indicates the need for better interventions, he adds.
Meanwhile, KSEB sources confirm that proposals to open charging stations at 128 locations in Kerala have already been submitted under the PM’s Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement Scheme. These modern stations will also be equipped for heavy goods vehicles, they add.
Published – 15 Dec 2025 20:55 IST
