In a significant push towards sustainable transportation, the Government of India has allocated ₹2,000 crore under the PM E-Drive scheme to establish 72,000 electric vehicle (EV) public charging stations across the country.
Chairing an inter-ministerial coordination meeting today, Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy brought together senior officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Road Transport and Highways, and Heavy Industries to accelerate the nationwide rollout of EV charging infrastructure.
The PM E-Drive scheme, envisioned under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, aims to create a robust, EV-ready ecosystem to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote cleaner modes of transport.
The minister said that the charging stations would be strategically located across 50 national highway corridors and high-traffic areas such as metro cities, toll plazas, railway stations, airports, fuel outlets, and state highways.
Minister Kumaraswamy emphasized, “India is on track to becoming a global model for green mobility. The PM E-Drive initiative is not just about building infrastructure—it is about securing our energy future and generating economic opportunities through sustainable innovation.”
As part of the implementation strategy, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is being considered as the nodal agency responsible for demand aggregation and the development of a unified digital super app. This platform will enable real-time charger booking, payment integration, status monitoring, and progress tracking of the EV charging network across India.
BHEL will also collaborate with state governments and central ministries to evaluate and process infrastructure proposals, ensuring alignment and efficiency in deployment.
Highlighting the need for cross-sector collaboration, the minister noted, the clean energy transition cannot succeed in silos. This coordinated approach demonstrates our commitment to collaborative federalism, where every arm of the government is aligned to deliver results on the ground.
The initiative is expected to drive ‘Make in India’ manufacturing in the EV sector, reduce carbon emissions, support green job creation, and lay the foundation for a net-zero mobility future.
