Hundreds of electric autorickshaw drivers in Kozhikode are facing operational difficulties owing to a shortage of public charging points. The issue remains largely unaddressed even as private and taxi vehicles are shifting from petrol and diesel to electric power, in line with the proposals of the Central and State governments to combat air pollution and reduce dependence on imported fuel.
Several lamppost-mounted charging points installed earlier by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) are non-functional. According to autorickshaw drivers’ union functionaries, fewer than 10 such charging points are presently usable in Kozhikode city, a number they say is far below actual requirements.
“There are close to 2,500 electric autorickshaws operating across Kozhikode city alone and the lack of accessible charging facilities affects daily operations and undermines the government’s stated goal of promoting pollution-free public transport,” says T.V. Noushad, an autorickshaw driver and functionary of the Kozhikode District Auto-Taxi Light Motor Workers’ Union. He points out that the memorandums submitted to the Electricity Minister and the Minister for Public Works six months ago had not evoked any response.
According to Mr. Noushad, the drivers’ unions approached the ministers directly following a recommendation from the KSEB citing technical issues they faced in opening new charging points. The project will become a reality only with the approval of the KSEB, which requires final clearance from the State government, he claims.
The drivers owing allegiance to various trade unions point out that the KSEB can easily explore the free space available under various flyovers to install new charging points. They say these locations offer secure space for charging equipment and allow drivers to park vehicles without disrupting traffic or pedestrian movement.
K.B. Rjeevan, an autorickshaw driver from Pavangad, says many drivers opt for electric vehicles now believing assurances from the local authorities and the State government that adequate charging infrastructure will come up within a couple of years. Now, many are in a situation to cut short their trips, lacking the promised arrangements for several years.
The fear of running out of power on the road has also prompted a section of 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 encouraged in private or cooperative sectors with government assistance to address the crisis. Though a few such charging stations are there in the State, the limited numbers show the need for better interventions, he adds.
Meanwhile, KSEB sources confirm that proposals for opening charging stations in 128 locations in Kerala have already been submitted under the Centre’s PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement Scheme. Such modern stations will also be equipped to cater to heavy trucks, they add.
Published – December 15, 2025 08:55 pm IST
