The government has taken a move to set up solar power-based recharge stations for battery-run easy-bikes in the country's seven divisional headquarters.
Hundreds of thousands of easy-bikes are accused of pilfering more than 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the national grid, as batteries of these vehicles are recharged overnight, mostly by taking illegal power connections.
A group is also taking money from the easy-bike owners and drivers for battery recharge, depriving the government of revenue.
Officials said the Power Division has already taken steps to seek fund from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for installation of seven recharge stations, preferably at a patrol pump in each divisional headquarter.
Each of the station is planned to have 100 kilowatt capacity during the peak hours to enable recharge of at least 100 easy-bikes a day in all seasons.
 "We will send a proposal to the MoF soon, seeking a fund of Tk 1.00 billion for installation of seven recharge stations," said an official of the Power Cell.
He said under the pilot project, installation cost of each station has been estimated Tk 10.5 million.
Sources said the Power Division held a meeting recently to discuss details of the solar recharge stations in presence of the Prime Minister's energy advisor.
On recommendation of the meeting, the Power Cell has prepared the proposal, suggesting the government to provide money for making recharge fees affordable to easy-bike owners.
The official said they are trying to keep recharge fees of each easy-bike within Tk 20-25, it will be possible if the government provides subsidy.
According to the Power Cell, each easy-bike will use five units to be recharged, which, as per commercial rate, cost Tk 50.
According to officials, 300,000 easy-bikes are running in rural and urban areas, but the unofficial estimation is more than double of the official one.
"If we keep the recharge rate at market price, no one will be interested to use the recharge stations. At the same time, there is a need to motivate the easy-bike owners and drivers to use the legal stations, for which the subsidy is necessary," said an official.
Besides, a plan has been taken to maintain solar recharge panels of the stations by Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), he added.
The officials further said easy-bikes are illegal under the motor vehicles act. But efforts have been taken to bring these into a legal framework, as these vehicles are being manufactured and operated by some influential quarters.
Solar recharge stations for easy-bikes in div HQs
Munima Sultana | Published: March 22, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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