In a shocking incident last week, a fire erupted in the parking lot near Borivali’s Mangal Kunj Society, resulting in the destruction of approximately 25 to 26 vehicles. The Mumbai Fire Brigade swiftly deployed three fire tenders to combat the spreading flames in a race against time.
Images from the incident portray the chaos as firefighters battled to control the fire, though the exact cause remains unknown.
Local residents, however, reported that the fire originated from one of the electric bikes parked near the Mangal Kunj building in the afternoon. Subsequently, around thirty to forty two-wheelers parked nearby also succumbed to the flames.
This incident brings attention to the imperative need for stringent adherence to electric vehicle (EV) regulations. In June 2021, the Maharashtra government introduced the “Maharashtra State Electric Vehicle Policy 2021” to address challenges, including high upfront costs, aiming to promote widespread EV adoption. The policy emphasizes the development of charging infrastructure and offers incentives to boost EV production capacity.
A critical aspect of the policy allows individual EV owners to install private EV chargers with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their housing society or Resident Welfare Association (RWA). This provision aims to facilitate home charging, with private vehicles potentially meeting up to 80% of their charging needs from these sources.
However, it is paramount for both EV owners and housing societies to ensure strict adherence to safety guidelines to prevent incidents like the recent fire in Borivali.
