Govt Approves ₹503 Crore for Massive EV Charging Expansion

In a big move to upscale the electric mobility landscape in India, the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries has approved the installation of 4,874 electric vehicle chargers across the country. This project involves a financial commitment of ₹503.86 crore and falls under the ambitious PM E-Drive scheme.

The announcement was made by Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, during a national conference held in Bengaluru on 12 May 2026. The initiative aims to address range anxiety by creating a robust network of charging stations that cater to a wide variety of vehicles, including electric two wheelers, three wheelers, passenger cars, buses, and heavy duty trucks.

According to the government, the new infrastructure will be strategically deployed across several key states. These include Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka has been earmarked for a significant portion of the funding, with ₹123.26 crore allocated to set up 1,243 chargers within the state.

Also read: Gadkari Launches Second Barrier-Free MLFF Plaza in Delhi

The implementation of this large scale project will be handled by major central public sector enterprises. Prominent energy companies such as Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited will lead the installation efforts.

This expansion is a critical component of the broader PM E-Drive initiative, which has a total budget of ₹10,900 crore. Of this amount, ₹2,000 crore is dedicated specifically to public charging infrastructure. The scheme also provides substantial demand incentives to encourage the adoption of nearly 25 lakh electric two wheelers and over 3 lakh electric three wheelers.