Odisha urges Centre to set up 190 EV charging stations in six cities under PM E-Drive Scheme

The Odisha government has requested the Centre to set up 190 EV charging infrastructure across 190 locations in six key cities under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement PM E-Drive scheme, officials said on Wednesday. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited BHEL has been appointed as the Project Implementation Agency PIA for the development of EV public charging stations.

The Odisha government has requested the Centre to set up 190 EV charging infrastructure across 190 locations in six key cities under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-Drive) scheme, officials said on Wednesday. The State Transport Authority (STA) under the Commerce and Transport Department has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Heavy Industries in this regard. The proposed EV charging infrastructure will be set up at 190 locations in Angul, Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kalinganagar, and Puri, a statement said. A meeting in this connection was held here in the presence of transport secretary NBS Rajput, transport commissioner Amitabh Thakur and other senior officials of the department. Notified in September 2024 with a total outlay of Rs 10,900 crore, the scheme earmarks Rs 2,000 crore specifically for the development of Electric Vehicle Public Charging Stations (EVPCS). The initiative supports both upstream infrastructure and EV supply equipment, including chargers, to strengthen the country's charging network-considered crucial for addressing range anxiety and boosting EV adoption. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has been appointed as the Project Implementation Agency (PIA) for the development of EV public charging stations. A joint team of MHI and BHEL will conduct site surveys to assess feasibility before final approvals and sanctioning of the proposed charging stations, the statement said. Once implemented, the project is expected to significantly enhance charging accessibility, reduce range anxiety, and support the development of a robust EV ecosystem in the region, it added.