Bhubaneswar: Odisha has proposed setting up 290 additional public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across 13 cities and along key national and state highways under the second phase of the Centre’s PM E-Drive scheme, as the State steps up efforts to expand its green transport infrastructure.
The proposal follows the Centre’s approval for 170 charging stations in seven major cities of Odisha under the first phase of the scheme.
The proposed locations in the second phase include Rourkela, Talcher, Sambalpur, Paradip, Badabil, Belpahad, Berhampur, Brajrajnagar, Chhatrapur, Jharsuguda, Joda, Keonjhar and Rajgangpur. Charging facilities are also planned along important national and state highways.
Of the proposed sites, 68 are located at Wayside Amenity Centres under the Tourism Department. Key highway stretches, including the economically important Paradip-Badabil corridor, have also been included in the plan.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has been engaged as the project implementing agency. Before the final approval of the proposed locations, a team led by BHEL General Manager J.K. Patnaik will conduct field inspections to assess their feasibility.
Apart from the central scheme, the State Commerce and Transport Department is taking steps to establish more than 500 additional EV charging stations through its own initiative. Of these, 24 charging stations are already operational in Bhubaneswar.
The department, under the direction of Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, is working to install charging facilities at important locations across the State, including Atal Bus Terminals and truck terminals.
The State Government is also offering financial incentives to consumers for purchasing electric vehicles under its Electric Vehicle Policy.
The expansion of the charging network, along with purchase incentives, is aimed at addressing range and charging concerns among EV users and encouraging wider adoption of electric mobility in Odisha.
