Centre Pushes for Rapid Expansion of EV Charging Network Under ₹2,000 Crore PM E-Drive Scheme

New Delhi: Union Minister for Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, chaired a high-level inter-ministerial coordination meeting today to accelerate the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure under the PM E-Drive scheme. Senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and Ministry of Heavy Industries participated in the session, which focused on streamlining efforts for nationwide implementation.

Launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the PM E-Drive scheme aims to create a robust EV-ready ecosystem across India to promote clean mobility and reduce the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels. With a financial outlay of ₹2,000 crore, the scheme envisions the installation of around 72,000 public EV charging stations strategically located across the country.

The charging stations will be set up along 50 national highway corridors and in key high-footfall areas such as metro cities, toll plazas, railway stations, airports, fuel outlets, and state highways. The project is being hailed as a critical component in India’s journey toward sustainable transportation and energy security.

“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is on the path to becoming a global model for sustainable transport,” said Minister Kumaraswamy during the meeting. “The PM E-Drive scheme is not just about infrastructure; it is about building a greener economy and ensuring clean, affordable, and convenient mobility options for all citizens.”

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is being considered as the nodal agency for demand aggregation and development of a national-level digital platform for EV users. The app, proposed under the scheme, will allow users to locate chargers, book slots in real time, make digital payments, and track national deployment progress through integrated dashboards.

Highlighting the importance of synergy across ministries and states, the minister said, “The clean energy transition cannot succeed in silos. This meeting reflects our commitment to working as one government. Ministries, public sector enterprises, and states are all aligned to deliver results on ground. We are confident that PM E-Drive will catalyse new industries, generate green jobs, and offer seamless electric mobility to every Indian.”