Dalhousie-Chamba, 17 December 2024: Aiming to establish Dalhousie as a leading center for sustainable tourism, a stakeholder sensitization workshop was held with the support of ICLEI South Asia, the Directorate of Transport, Shimla, and the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department. The workshop focused on developing electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in hotels to promote eco-friendly travel, reduce emissions, and provide sustainable transport options for tourists, positioning Dalhousie as a model destination for green tourism.

The session also discussed the Himachal Pradesh EV Policy and the state’s ongoing initiatives to support EV infrastructure and promote clean energy solutions. Rajeev Mishra, District Tourism Development Officer, emphasized the regulatory policies under the state’s EV policy for adopting EVs and establishing charging stations. Following his address, Varsha Parmar and Arun Thakur from ICLEI South Asia discussed the economic, environmental, and competitive advantages of EV infrastructure for the local tourism sector.

Various operational and implementation models were explored to overcome financial challenges. These included different partnership structures, collaborations between the public and private sectors, and financial incentives to facilitate the development of the EV charging network and assist hotel owners in making investments.

Charging point operators shared practical insights on the establishment and management of charging stations, covering the technical, operational, and policy aspects of implementing EV infrastructure.

Hotel Association President, Krishan, Hotel Association Secretary, Nagesh, and hotel owners responded positively to the initiative and expressed their readiness to promote e-mobility in Dalhousie-Chamba. They recognized that adopting EV infrastructure would enhance Dalhousie’s environmental reputation among tourists, making it an attractive and sustainable destination.

RTO Chamba, Ram Prakash and Senior Assistant, Amit Kumar from the RTO Office Chamba also participated in the workshop and pledged their full support for the initiative. All participants acknowledged the importance of involving various stakeholders and identifying local champions to effectively implement and promote e-mobility in Dalhousie-Chamba.