Most people who plan an EV Charging Franchise in Rajkot spend their first weeks comparing chargers and asking about returns. The projects that actually open on time usually start somewhere less exciting: an electricity application, a property file and a clear answer about which authority controls the plot. In Rajkot, those three things decide your launch date far more than the charger you choose.
This guide is built around that reality. It walks through how a new connection works with Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL), how to decide between an LT and an HT supply, which local approvals apply inside and outside city limits, and exactly which documents to prepare. It also covers where in Rajkot the paperwork tends to get stuck, so you can avoid those delays before they happen.
Why Rajkot Starts With Paperwork, Not Hardware
Rajkot is the commercial centre of Saurashtra and the headquarters city of PGVCL, the state distribution company that supplies power across Saurashtra and Kutch. That makes the city a practical base for a charging business: the utility's senior offices are local, and so are the engineers who survey sites and issue estimates.
The city's charging demand also comes from several directions at once. Traffic flows along the Ahmedabad highway, Gondal Road, Morbi Road, Jamnagar Road and Kalavad Road. The industrial belts at Aji GIDC, Metoda and Shapar-Veraval move staff and goods every day, and Hirasar airport has added a new travel corridor on the Ahmedabad side. Public chargers already operate along several of these roads, which confirms that EV drivers are using them.
None of this helps, though, if a plot cannot get power in time or sits under an authority whose permission you did not plan for. That is why an EV Charging Franchise in Rajkot should be planned from the paperwork outward. Once the connection route and approvals are clear, the charger choice becomes a much simpler decision.
For the state-wide picture, including Gujarat's current policy status, read SpeedCharge's EV charging station franchise in Gujarat guide. The national step-by-step view is covered in how to start an EV charging station franchise in India.
Step 1: Confirm Which Authority Controls Your Plot
Before any electrical planning, find out who governs the land. In and around Rajkot, a plot normally falls under one of four types of authority:
Location of Plot | Governing Authority | What It Usually Controls |
|---|---|---|
Inside city limits | Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) | Building and development permission, signage, property tax records, shop registration |
Outside city limits but in the urban development area | Rajkot Urban Development Authority (RUDA) | Development permission and land-use compliance |
Industrial estates | GIDC estate office | Plot use, sub-letting rules, estate-level permissions |
Village land on highways | Gram panchayat and revenue records, plus highway access rules | Non-agricultural (NA) land status, access from the highway |
Rajkot Municipal Corporation is divided into Central, East and West zones, and each zone has its own civic centre for property records and permissions. You can check services, zone offices and property tax details on the Rajkot Municipal Corporation official website.
Highway plots need special attention. Land beside Morbi Road or the Ahmedabad highway may still be recorded as agricultural. A charging station is a commercial use, so confirm that the land has the right status before you invest in anything else. If the plot is inside a GIDC estate, read the lease terms to check whether sub-letting part of it to a charging operator is allowed. Getting this answer first can save an EV Charging Franchise in Rajkot from weeks of rework later.
Step 2: Decide Between LT and HT Supply
This decision shapes your cost, your timeline and the equipment you need, so make it early.
On Gujarat's DISCOM portals, LT (low tension) applications are generally used for loads up to about 100 kW, while larger loads go through the HT (high tension) route. Confirm the current limit with PGVCL before you file, because it decides which form and which office handle your application.
Factor | LT Connection | HT Connection |
|---|---|---|
Typical fit | One DC charger of around 60 kW with a few AC points | Several DC chargers or high-power charging |
Handled by | PGVCL sub-division office | PGVCL division, circle or corporate office, depending on load |
Your equipment | Metering and distribution panel | Usually your own transformer, HT metering and protection |
Complexity | Simpler and faster | More engineering, more approvals, more cost |
Future expansion | May need a later upgrade to HT | Headroom built in from the start |
A common mistake is applying for the load you need today when you already plan to add chargers within a year or two. A later upgrade from LT to HT can mean redoing panels, cables and metering. If expansion is realistic, discuss it with PGVCL at the application stage and plan cable routes and space for it now.
PGVCL publishes separate procedures, charge estimates and application forms for LT and HT connections in its PGVCL Consumer Guide. Read the one that matches your load before you fill in anything.
Step 3: File the PGVCL Application
New connections in Gujarat are applied for online through the GUVNL consumer portal, where you log in with a registered mobile number and select PGVCL as your DISCOM. Applications can also be routed through the National Single Window System.
The PGVCL process generally moves through these stages:
Online application: Enter applicant details, the connection category and the connected load.
Document upload: Upload identity proof and proof of ownership or occupancy for the premises.
Registration fee: Pay the registration charges online.
Site survey: Engineers from the PGVCL office visit the site to check the supply position and cable route.
Estimate: PGVCL issues an estimate for the work needed to supply the site.
Estimate payment: You pay the estimate amount.
Agreement: Where applicable, you sign the supply agreement.
Execution and meter: PGVCL completes its work, installs the meter and releases the connection.
For an LT connection, the New LT Connection approval on the National Single Window System lists the required documents and an average of 7 days where no new infrastructure is needed, or 15 days where right-of-way permissions are required. Treat these as official averages, not a promise for your site. A plot that needs a new line, a pole shift or a transformer will take longer.
The estimate stage deserves close attention. It tells you exactly what upstream work PGVCL expects and what it will cost. An EV Charging Franchise in Rajkot should never sign a long lease before this estimate is in hand, because it can change the economics of a site completely.
Step 4: Build the Complete Document Pack
Incomplete files are the most common reason applications stall. Put together one pack that serves PGVCL, the local authority and the franchise agreement, so you are not collecting papers three separate times.
Document | Why It Is Needed | Who Asks for It |
|---|---|---|
Photo identity proof (Aadhaar, PAN, passport or similar) | Identifies the applicant | PGVCL, franchise company |
Authorisation letter and company documents | Needed if a firm or company applies | PGVCL |
Ownership proof (sale deed, index copy, latest property tax receipt or allotment letter) | Shows the right to use the premises | PGVCL, local authority |
Registered or notarised lease or rent agreement | Needed if you are a tenant | PGVCL, franchise company |
Owner's no-objection letter | Confirms the owner permits charging use | PGVCL, franchise company |
NA land order or land-use record | Confirms commercial use is allowed on highway or village land | Revenue office, RUDA or panchayat |
Site layout plan | Shows bays, charger positions, panel and cable route | PGVCL, local authority |
Load calculation | Supports the LT or HT load applied for | PGVCL |
GST registration and bank details | Needed for billing and settlements | Franchise company, tax records |
Electrical contractor's licence and test report | Supports safe installation and inspection | Electrical inspectorate |
Keep scanned copies in one shared folder with clear file names, and keep originals ready for verification. When the premises are rented, check that the lease period comfortably covers the franchise term. A short lease can block an otherwise good project.
Step 5: Electrical Safety and Inspection
A charging station must meet the safety regulations of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). These cover earthing, protection devices, cable selection, clearances and testing. Depending on the voltage and size of the installation, an inspection by the electrical inspectorate may be required before the supply is energised.
The rules themselves are published by the Central Electricity Authority. In practice, the most reliable approach is to use a licensed electrical contractor who has handled commercial or HT installations in Rajkot before. They will know how the local inspection process works and what the inspectors look for.
Pay particular attention to earthing and cable sizing. DC fast chargers draw heavy currents for long periods, and poorly sized cables or weak earthing are among the most common causes of faults and failed inspections. SpeedCharge's guides on EV charger earthing and grounding and EV charging fire safety and cable selection cover both topics in detail. For a wider view of the national rules, see the CEA EV charging guidelines explainer.
Step 6: Understand the National Charging Framework
At the national level, the Ministry of Power's framework treats setting up a public charging station as a de-licensed activity. Any individual or company can set one up, provided it meets the technical, safety and performance standards. This means you do not need a separate electricity licence to sell charging.
The framework also covers public access, open network connectivity, payment options and the tariff principles that apply to public charging. The current version is the Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure 2024, published through the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.
For a checklist of compliance items across the life of a station, read SpeedCharge's guide on EV charging station compliance in India. If you want to understand how single-window systems speed up approvals, the EV charger single window process guide explains it step by step.
Whose Name Goes on the Connection?
This question sounds administrative, but it has real financial consequences, and it is often left unclear until something goes wrong.
The name on the PGVCL connection decides who pays the security deposit, who receives and pays the electricity bills, and who controls the connection if the franchise ends. It also affects how easily the connection can be transferred later.
Settle these points in writing before you apply:
Whether the connection will be in the name of the property owner, the franchisee or the operating company
Who pays the registration fee, the estimate amount and the security deposit
Who owns upstream assets such as a transformer after the agreement ends
How electricity bills are paid and reconciled against charging revenue
What happens to the connection and deposit at exit
In an EV Charging Franchise in Rajkot where the property owner and the franchisee are different people, all three parties should sign off on this before the application is filed. It is much easier to agree now than to change the name on a connection later.
Where Rajkot Projects Usually Get Stuck
Agricultural Land on a Highway
A plot on Morbi Road or near the Ahmedabad highway can look ideal but still be recorded as agricultural. Without the correct land status, both the connection and the local permission can stall.
Ownership Papers That Don't Match
If the name on the sale deed, the property tax receipt and the application do not match, expect queries. Fix mismatches before filing, not after.
Underestimating the Load
Applying for a small LT load and then trying to add a second DC charger often leads to a costly upgrade. Plan for realistic expansion from the start.
Leaving the Estimate Until After the Lease
The PGVCL estimate can reveal expensive line or transformer work. Always see it before committing to a long lease.
Sub-letting Inside an Industrial Estate
Some GIDC plot leases restrict sub-letting or change of use. Check the estate rules before you promise space to a charging operator.
Choosing the First Site in Rajkot
Once you know the paperwork route, site choice becomes more practical. Compare at least three candidate plots and score each one on four points: how easily it can get power, how clean its land and ownership records are, how easily vehicles can enter and leave, and what kind of traffic passes it.
Plots along the major approach roads suit intercity drivers, especially those travelling between Rajkot and Ahmedabad, Jamnagar or Morbi. Sites near the industrial belts can serve staff transport and logistics vehicles on a schedule. City commercial locations near hotels, hospitals and retail areas can build a base of repeat local users.
The best EV Charging Franchise in Rajkot will often be the one where the paperwork is cleanest, not the one on the busiest road. A slightly quieter site that can be energised quickly will start earning while a busier site is still waiting for approvals. For highway-specific planning, SpeedCharge's guide to highway EV charging in India is a useful companion.
To compare how franchise planning works in other Gujarat cities, see the EV charging station franchise in Ahmedabad and EV charging franchise in Vadodara guides. You can also look at the EV charging stations in Ahmedabad page to see how a mature Gujarat charging market looks for drivers.
After the Connection: Going Live
With power released and the installation inspected, the final steps are commissioning and network onboarding. Commissioning should test every connector, the payment flow, the emergency stop and remote monitoring. The station is then connected to the charger management system and listed so drivers can find it through the SpeedCharge Station Finder.
From the first week, track billable kWh, sessions per connector, failed sessions and repeat users. Keep a simple compliance file with the connection papers, inspection reports and maintenance records. It will make renewals, audits and any future expansion much easier.
What SpeedCharge Offers
SpeedCharge's current franchise proposition includes a Minimum Guarantee of ₹20,000 per month for 3 years, as per the franchise agreement. Any other income figure you see during planning should be treated as an illustrative estimate that depends on location and utilisation, not as a promise. Exact investment details, responsibilities and agreement terms are shared on request.
Conclusion
Starting an EV Charging Franchise in Rajkot is less about finding the perfect charger and more about getting four things right in order: the authority that controls the plot, the LT or HT decision, a complete PGVCL application with a clear estimate, and a document pack that satisfies everyone who needs to see it. Add a licensed electrical contractor and a written agreement on whose name goes on the connection, and most of the usual delays disappear.
Rajkot's position as Saurashtra's commercial centre and PGVCL's home city makes it a practical place to build a charging business. The investors who do best will be those who treat the paperwork as the first stage of the project, not an obstacle to rush past.
If you have a plot in mind, you can Request Franchise Details through the SpeedCharge franchise page and discuss your site with the team.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which electricity company supplies charging stations in Rajkot?
Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) supplies electricity in Rajkot and across Saurashtra and Kutch. New connections, load extensions and estimates for charging stations are handled through PGVCL offices.
2. How do I apply for a new PGVCL connection for a charging station?
Apply online through the GUVNL consumer portal by logging in with a registered mobile number and selecting PGVCL. You enter your load, upload documents and pay the registration fee. Applications can also be routed through the National Single Window System.
3. Should my charging station use an LT or HT connection?
It depends on the total load. LT connections generally suit loads up to about 100 kW, such as one 60 kW DC charger with a few AC points, while larger loads need HT. Confirm the current limit with PGVCL before applying.
4. How long does a PGVCL connection take?
The National Single Window System lists an average of 7 days for a new LT connection where no infrastructure is needed, and 15 days where right-of-way permissions are required. Sites needing new lines or transformers take longer, so ask for a site-specific estimate.
5. What documents do I need to start a charging station in Rajkot?
Typically you need identity proof, ownership proof or a registered lease, the owner's no-objection letter, land-use records for highway or village land, a site layout, a load calculation and GST registration. PGVCL or the local authority may request additional papers depending on the site.
6. Do I need a licence to sell EV charging?
No separate licence is needed. Under the Ministry of Power's framework, setting up a public charging station is a de-licensed activity, provided the station meets the prescribed technical, safety and performance standards.
7. Can I open a charging station on agricultural land near a highway?
A charging station is a commercial use, so the land usually needs the correct non-agricultural status first. Check the land records and get the status changed before you invest in equipment or apply for a connection.
8. Can I set up a charging station on rented property in Rajkot?
Yes, as long as you have a registered or notarised lease and a no-objection letter from the owner. Make sure the lease period covers the full franchise term.
9. Is an electrical inspection required before the station goes live?
Depending on the voltage and size of the installation, an inspection by the electrical inspectorate may be required under Central Electricity Authority safety regulations. A licensed contractor experienced with commercial installations can confirm what applies to your site.
10. What does SpeedCharge offer franchise partners in Rajkot?
SpeedCharge's current commercial proposition includes a Minimum Guarantee of ₹20,000 per month for 3 years, as per the franchise agreement. Full terms and investment details are shared through the franchise enquiry process.
