Odisha Plans 190 EV Charging Stations Under PM E‑DRIVE

Bhubaneswar, April 28: Odisha has taken a major step towards green mobility by proposing the installation of 190 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across six key cities—Angul, Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kalinganagar, and Puri.

The proposal, submitted by the State Transport Authority to the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), falls under the PM E‑DRIVE Scheme, launched in September 2024 with a Rs 10,900 crore outlay, including Rs 2,000 crore earmarked for public charging infrastructure nationwide.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has been designated as the Project Implementation Agency. Officials from MHI and BHEL will conduct site surveys before final approvals.

The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Net Zero 2070 vision, aiming to build a robust EV ecosystem across India.

Senior officials, including Principal Secretary NBS Rajput and Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur, attended a review meeting in Bhubaneswar to finalise the roadmap.

This move is expected to reduce range anxiety, encourage EV adoption, and reinforce Odisha’s commitment to sustainable transport and clean mobility under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.