The Government of India has taken a significant step toward accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country by advancing the development of a national EV charging infrastructure under the PM E-Drive scheme. On May 22, 2025, the Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Mr. H.D. Kumaraswamy, convened an inter-ministerial coordination meeting with representatives from key ministries, including the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and the Ministry of Heavy Industries to review and fast-track the implementation of this ambitious initiative.

PM E-Drive Scheme Overview

The PM E-Drive, launched under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a flagship initiative aimed at building a robust EV ecosystem to support India’s clean mobility goals. With a financial outlay of ₹2,000 crore (approximately US$ 233.64 million), the scheme targets the installation of 72,000 public EV charging stations across India.

The focus will be on setting up chargers along 50 key national highway corridors and major traffic nodes, including:

• Metro cities

• Railway stations

• Airports

• Fuel outlets

• Toll plazas

• State highways

This will ensure that India’s EV users have convenient and consistent access to charging facilities, a critical need for improving confidence in EV adoption nationwide.

BHEL’s Role as Nodal Agency

A key highlight of the PM E-Drive scheme is the nomination of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) as the nodal agency for overseeing the execution and coordination of the infrastructure rollout. BHEL’s responsibilities will include:

• Demand aggregation for EV chargers across states and agencies

• Developing a unified EV digital super app, designed to enhance the user experience for EV drivers

• Coordinating with state governments and central ministries for proposal evaluation and implementation

The super app will feature:

• Real-time charger availability updates

• Slot booking functionalities

• Seamless digital payment integration

• Deployment tracking dashboards for transparency and monitoring

Inter-Ministerial Coordination for Execution

During the meeting, Minister Kumaraswamy highlighted the importance of cooperative federalism. He emphasized that collaborative efforts between central and state agencies are vital for delivering on the vision of a green, zero-emission future.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, with its vast network of fuel stations, and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, responsible for national highway development, are expected to play pivotal roles in the physical deployment of EV charging units.

Key Strategic Objectives

The PM E-Drive scheme is expected to deliver on multiple fronts:

1. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels
   With a major push for clean energy, the widespread adoption of EVs will help decrease India’s reliance on petroleum imports, improving energy security.

2. Creating green jobs
   The expansion of EV infrastructure will stimulate employment in sectors like charger manufacturing, EV servicing, mobile app development, and renewable energy.

3. Promoting Make in India
   By encouraging local manufacturing of chargers, connectors, and software systems, the initiative aligns with India’s push for self-reliance in key technology domains.

4. Meeting climate goals
   Supporting India’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2070, the shift to electric mobility is central to the national strategy for carbon footprint reduction.

Regional Impact and Deployment Priorities

The deployment strategy will prioritize urban centres with high vehicle density and highway corridors with intense long-distance travel activity. States with progressive EV policies—like Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Telangana—are expected to be among the early adopters of large-scale charger deployment.

Special emphasis will be placed on multi-modal transport hubs like railway stations and airports, ensuring that EV users can seamlessly integrate electric transport across different modes.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

While the PM E-Drive scheme outlines an ambitious and much-needed vision, successful implementation will depend on overcoming several challenges:

• Grid integration and power load management
  Coordinated planning with DISCOMs and state electricity boards will be essential to ensure stable and sufficient power supply.

• Interoperability of chargers
  Creating open standards for charger design and software compatibility will be vital for scalability and user convenience.

• Public-private collaboration
  Encouraging private sector participation through incentives and partnerships will help scale up the infrastructure rapidly.

• Awareness and education
  A national outreach program will be needed to educate EV users, fleet operators, and dealers about the benefits and usage of public chargers.

Conclusion

The PM E-Drive scheme is a bold and progressive initiative that puts India firmly on the path to an electric mobility revolution. With ₹2,000 crore in funding, 72,000 charging stations planned, and BHEL leading the charge as a technology enabler, the groundwork is being laid for a future of accessible, affordable, and green transportation.

The government’s integrated approach, focusing on infrastructure, digital platforms, job creation, and carbon reduction, reflects its deep commitment to sustainable development and energy independence.

As India moves forward, the PM E-Drive will be pivotal not just in transforming the EV landscape but also in shaping a cleaner, greener economy for the next generation.

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