The Government of India has formally released a detailed framework for installing 72,300 electric vehicle charging stations nationwide, under its ambitious PM E-DRIVE scheme. The move is aimed at bolstering the country’s EV charging infrastructure and addressing key impediments to EV adoption.
Under the new rules, certain entities such as government offices, hospitals, residential colonies, and educational institutions will qualify for 100% subsidies on upstream infrastructure and charging equipment — provided the charging points are open to the public. For other priority locations — including railway stations, airports, bus depots, metro stations, toll plazas, municipal parking spaces, and oil company outlets — the government will offer 80% subsidy for infrastructure and 70% subsidy for equipment. Roadside facilities, shopping malls, markets, and national highway spots will also benefit under similar terms.
The scheme even extends support to battery swapping stations, where eligible setups will receive 80% subsidy on upstream infrastructure costs, thus enhancing flexibility within the EV ecosystem. Oversight of the rollout will be vested in Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), designated as the Project Implementation Agency (PIA). State and central bodies will need to appoint nodal agencies to consolidate demand, identify high-potential sites, and submit project proposals through a centralized portal.
The disbursal of subsidies will follow a two-phase structure, linked to compliance with performance benchmarks. Focus will be on cities with more than a million residents, state capitals, smart cities, satellite towns connected to metro networks, and high-traffic transport corridors.
Through this policy, the Centre aims to directly tackle challenges like range anxiety, limited charging access, and high infrastructure costs thereby encouraging greater uptake of EVs among both private and commercial users. With widespread, publicly accessible charging stations, the government hopes to build confidence in India’s evolving EV landscape and further its net-zero mobility ambitions.
