In a significant push toward decarbonising transport, Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, chaired an inter-ministerial coordination meeting today to review and accelerate the rollout of EV charging infrastructure under the ambitious PM E-Drive scheme.
Launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the PM E-Drive initiative aims to establish a robust nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging network to reduce fossil fuel dependence and support India’s clean mobility transition.
With a financial allocation of ₹2,000 crore, the scheme targets the installation of nearly 72,000 public EV charging stations across the country. These chargers will be strategically located along 50 national highway corridors and in high-density zones such as metro cities, toll plazas, airports, railway stations, fuel stations, and state highways.
“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is on the path to becoming a global model for sustainable transport. The PM E-Drive scheme is a transformative initiative aimed at giving our citizens access to clean, affordable, and convenient mobility options,” said Union Minister Kumaraswamy.
Key Developments:
BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) is being considered as the nodal agency for demand aggregation and for developing a unified digital super app to streamline user access.
The app will include real-time slot booking, payment integration, charger availability updates, and dashboards to monitor the national rollout.
BHEL will coordinate with state governments and relevant ministries to assess and approve proposals for charger installation.
The minister stressed the need for inter-ministerial cooperation, noting that the clean energy transition demands convergence across missions and federal structures.
“This meeting reflects our commitment to working as one government. Ministries, PSUs, and states are aligned to deliver on-ground results. PM E-Drive will catalyse new industries, create green jobs, and make electric mobility seamless for every Indian,” Kumaraswamy added.
The national EV charging grid under PM E-Drive is poised to play a crucial role in reducing transport-related carbon emissions, supporting Make in India efforts in EV infrastructure, and laying the foundation for a net-zero mobility future.
