Government Approves Rs 503.86 crore for 4,874 new EV charging stations across India

The Government of India has approved a budget of Rs 503.86 crore to install 4,874 new electric vehicle (EV) chargers nationwide. These chargers will be distributed across several states, including Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

Key Highlights

• Government approves Rs 503.86 crore for 4,874 new EV chargers across India
• Karnataka to receive 1,243 chargers with Rs 123.26 crore allocation
• PM E-Drive scheme allocates Rs 10,900 crore for EV ecosystem development
• Unified Bharat e-Charge app will allow users to access multiple charging networks
• FAME-II scheme led to installation of 8,932 chargers with Rs 873.5 crore in subsidies

Funding and Implementation Details

Government-owned oil companies—Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL), Indian Oil (IOCL), and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL)—have received approval to set up the new EV chargers. The announcement came from the Union Minister of Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, during the National EV Charging Conference in Bengaluru.

Kumaraswamy stated that Karnataka will receive 1,243 chargers, with a budget allocation of Rs 123.26 crore. The new chargers will support a range of electric vehicles, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, buses, and trucks.

PM E-Drive Scheme and Broader EV Push

The installation of these chargers is part of the PM E-Drive scheme, which has a total financial outlay of Rs 10,900 crore. The scheme aims to promote electric mobility and strengthen the EV ecosystem in India.

Of the total scheme outlay, Rs 3,679 crore is set aside as purchase incentives for electric vehicles. Another Rs 2,000 crore is dedicated to developing charging infrastructure. Additionally, Rs 780 crore will be used to modernize and upgrade vehicle testing agencies. The scheme also allocates Rs 4,391 crore to deploy over 14,000 new electric buses across the country.

Unified Bharat e-Charge App and Previous Initiatives

Minister Kumaraswamy revealed that a new 'Unified Bharat e-Charge' (UBC) app is under development. This app will allow EV users to locate, access, and pay for charging services across networks operated by different companies, all through a single interface.

The minister compared the expected impact of this app to that of UPI in the payments sector. Under the earlier FAME-II scheme, oil manufacturing agencies installed 8,932 EV chargers nationwide. The government provided subsidies totaling Rs 873.5 crore for these installations.

CarBike 360 Says

The government’s latest investment marks a crucial step toward building a robust EV ecosystem in India. With nearly 5,000 new charging stations planned, range anxiety is expected to reduce significantly, encouraging wider EV adoption. As infrastructure expands alongside policy support, India is steadily moving closer to its long-term electrification and sustainability goals.