• The central government has announced a ₹2,000 crore investment under the PM E-Drive initiative to install 72,000 electric vehicle (EV) public charging stations across India.
  • The initiative will allocate ₹10,900 crore to promote electric mobility, with nearly 40% of the funds earmarked for electric buses and an additional ₹500 crore for electric trucks.

Under the PM E-Drive initiative, the central government intends to invest ₹2,000 crore to install 72,000 EV public charging stations around India.

These stations will be positioned thoughtfully along 50 national highway corridors in high-traffic areas, including metro areas, toll plazas, train stations, airports, gas stations, and state highways.

To review and expedite the implementation of the EV charging infrastructure under the scheme, senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and the Ministry of Heavy Industries convened an interministerial coordination meeting, which was chaired by Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy.

“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is on the path to becoming a global model for sustainable transport. The PM E-Drive scheme is a transformative initiative to give our citizens access to clean, affordable, and convenient mobility options. We are not just building infrastructure; we are building the foundation for energy security and green economic growth,” said Kumaraswamy.

The integrated contribution of many stakeholders in carrying out this effort was also praised by the minister.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) is considered the primary agency for this project. BHEL will be responsible for measuring and aggregating the demand for EV chargers and developing a single digital app to optimize the EV charging infrastructure.

In order to track nationwide deployment under the PM E-Drive program, the app will have real-time slot booking, payment integration, charger availability status, and progress dashboards.

Additionally, BHEL will work with ministries and states to gather and assess charger installation bids.

In order to promote intercity electric public transportation and the adoption of electric vehicles for logistics, the government wants to install EV charging stations on national roads.

Under the PM E-Drive initiative, incentives for electric buses account for almost 40% of the entire expenditure of ₹10,900 crore, while electric trucks receive an extra ₹500 crore.

Through government reimbursement of manufacturers for the subsidized costs, the PM E-Drive program works to support the sale of electric automobiles.

The initiative will boost Made in India production in EV infrastructure, lower transportation-related carbon emissions, and create the framework for a future with net-zero mobility.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah