Uttarakhand’s Char Dham Route to host 38 EV charging stations

According to the Chief Minister, Dhami, the project fits with the central government’s “PM Electric Drive Revolution” and incorporates the Green Yatra theme for 2025. Dhami made clear that his government is committed to making this year’s Char Dham Yatra environmentally sustainable.

Among the 38 stations, the Transport Department in Uttarakhand looks after 28, while THDC India Limited takes care of the other 10. There are 60 kW chargers at every station, with capacity to charge two cars together via their 30 kW charging guns.

Right now, there are 25 working EV stations set up at main points where the pilgrimage begins. Another 13 will finish construction by the time both pilgrimage seasons, ending in November, have finished.

The majority of the setup for charging stations is happening on land belonging to the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN). According to Vishal Mishra, the GMVN has set up EV charging stations at important guesthouses and main stops and four in Rudraprayag district to increase the use of electric vehicles by pilgrims.

The route of the Char Dham Yatra (Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri) gathers millions of pilgrims each year. At the same time, more cars have brought concerns about pollution and damages to the Himalayan environment.

The idea is for the state to cut down on vehicle emissions, make tourism less harmful and present a new example for ecological travel in other important spiritual sites throughout the country.

Choosing the Char Dham region as a pilot was just the first stage in bringing green mobility to the Himalayas, officials underlined, as expansion projects are starting for surrounding areas.