India Fast-Tracks EV Charging Grid with ₹2,000 Cr Boost Under PM E-Drive
Photo Credit: PIB
India is moving quickly to expand its electric vehicle (EV) charging network under the PM E-Drive scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union Minister for Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, chaired a key inter-ministerial meeting to review and speed up the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. The meeting involved senior officials from the Ministries of Petroleum, Road Transport, and Heavy Industries.
The government has allocated ₹2,000 crore to set up around 72,000 public EV charging stations across India. These will be placed in major cities, along 50 national highway corridors, and at high-traffic locations like toll plazas, airports, metro stations, and fuel outlets. The aim is to make clean, affordable, and convenient mobility widely available while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is likely to be the nodal agency for aggregating charger demand and developing a unified EV super app. The app will offer features like real-time charger status, booking, digital payments, and national deployment tracking.
The Minister highlighted that the initiative will help India become a global example of sustainable transport. He stressed that collaboration across ministries, states, and public enterprises is essential to deliver results. The initiative is also expected to create green jobs, support Make in India efforts, and contribute to India’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions.
By integrating clean energy with modern infrastructure, the PM E-Drive scheme is set to transform India’s transport landscape and support the country’s broader climate and economic goals.
Source: PIB
