India is set to make a major leap in sustainable transportation with the launch of the PM E-Drive scheme, a nationwide initiative to establish a robust electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Announced by Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, the scheme will see an investment of ₹2,000 crore to install approximately 72,000 public EV charging stations across the country.
The PM E-Drive scheme, launched under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, aims to create a comprehensive EV-ready ecosystem that will reduce India’s reliance on fossil fuels and support cleaner, greener mobility. The charging stations will be strategically located along 50 national highway corridors and in high-traffic areas such as metro cities, toll plazas, railway stations, airports, fuel outlets, and state highways. This extensive network is designed to make EV charging accessible and convenient for all, supporting the rapid adoption of electric vehicles nationwide.
At an inter-ministerial coordination meeting chaired by Minister Kumaraswamy, senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and Ministry of Heavy Industries discussed the fast-tracking of the scheme’s implementation. The minister emphasized that the PM E-Drive initiative is not just about building infrastructure, but about laying the foundation for energy security and green economic growth. “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is on the path to becoming a global model for sustainable transport,” Kumaraswamy said. “The PM E-Drive scheme is a transformative initiative aimed at giving our citizens access to clean, affordable, and convenient mobility options.”
A key component of the scheme is the consideration of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) as the nodal agency for demand aggregation and the development of a unified EV super app. This digital platform will allow users to book charging slots in real time, make payments, check charger availability, and track the progress of national deployment. BHEL will also coordinate with state governments and ministries to evaluate and implement proposals for new charging stations.
Minister Kumaraswamy highlighted the importance of collaboration among ministries, public sector enterprises, and state governments to ensure the success of the PM E-Drive scheme. “The clean energy transition cannot succeed in silos. This meeting reflects our commitment to working as one government. We are confident that PM E-Drive will catalyse new industries, generate green jobs, and offer seamless electric mobility to every Indian,” he added.
The successful rollout of the PM E-Drive scheme is expected to significantly cut India’s transport-related carbon emissions, boost domestic manufacturing of EV infrastructure under the Make in India initiative, and pave the way for a net-zero mobility future.
