In a major push towards strengthening India’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, the Central Government has reaffirmed that setting up EV charging stations is an unlicensed activity, thereby enabling private entrepreneurs to participate freely in the sector.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha today, Minister of State for Heavy Industries, Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, highlighted that an allocation of ₹2,000 crore has been made under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme for the installation of electric vehicle public charging stations (EV PCS) across the country, including Tier-2 cities in Tamil Nadu.
As of April 1, 2025, 4,625 EV charging stations are operational in Tier-2 cities. However, the Minister clarified that setting targets for installation is not feasible, as the process is demand-driven and depends on factors such as EV adoption rates and local requirements.
To further encourage public and private sector involvement, the Ministry of Heavy Industries has allocated ₹873.50 crore under the FAME-II Scheme for the installation of 8,932 EV PCS by major oil marketing companies—IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL—under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Additionally, the Ministry of Power’s guidelines, issued on September 17, 2024, have been made applicable across India, covering even non-metro and semi-urban regions to promote equitable development of EV charging infrastructure.
The policy and financial incentives are expected to accelerate private sector participation and ensure the establishment of a robust and inclusive EV charging network nationwide.
