India to Install 72,000 EV Chargers Under PM E-Drive Scheme

New Delhi – Union Minister for Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, chaired an inter-ministerial coordination meeting to fast-track the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure under the PM E-Drive scheme. Senior officials from the Ministries of Petroleum, Road Transport, and Heavy Industries participated in the session. 

With a financial outlay of ₹2,000 crore (US$ 233.64 million), the scheme aims to install 72,000 public EV charging stations nationwide. These will be located along 50 national highway corridors and at key high-traffic areas, including metro cities, railway stations, airports, toll plazas, and fuel outlets. 

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is being considered the nodal agency to manage demand aggregation and develop a unified digital app for EV users. The app will offer real-time booking, payment integration, and charger availability updates. 

Mr. Kumaraswamy emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between central ministries and state governments, highlighting collaborative federalism as essential to advancing clean mobility. The initiative is expected to boost green jobs, support Make in India manufacturing and contribute to India’s carbon reduction goals.