In a significant move to bolster India’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MoHI) has unveiled a ₹2,000 crore allocation under the PM E-Drive Scheme to develop 72,000 public EV charging stations nationwide.
The announcement came after Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy chaired an inter-ministerial coordination meeting on May 21, 2025, bringing together officials from key ministries—Petroleum & Natural Gas, Road Transport & Highways, and Heavy Industries.
Key Highlights:
- Funding: ₹2,000 crore allocated.
- Deployment Goal: 72,000 EV public charging stations.
- Coverage: Metro cities, 50 national highway corridors, toll plazas, airports, railway stations, fuel outlets, and industrial corridors.
- Nodal Agency: BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) to spearhead demand aggregation and app development.
- Unified EV Super App: Real-time booking, charger status, payments, and deployment tracking.
Minister Kumaraswamy underscored the scheme’s transformative vision:
“We’re building not just infrastructure, but the foundation for India’s energy security and green growth.”
The PM E-Drive initiative is part of India’s larger strategy to achieve net-zero emissions, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and promote Make in India manufacturing in the EV space.
By fostering inter-ministerial collaboration and empowering public sector enterprises like BHEL, the government aims to deliver tangible results and catalyze green jobs and industries, ensuring seamless electric mobility for every Indian.
