Odisha proposes 290 new electric vehicle charging stations
The state has submitted the proposal to the Centre under the second phase of the PM E-DRIVE scheme.
The Odisha government has proposed the installation of 290 new public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across 13 cities, according to a report by Urban Acres. This proposal comes under the second phase of the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme.
The proposed locations include Rourkela, Talcher, Sambalpur, Paradip, Barbil, Belpahar, Berhampur, Brajarajnagar, Chhatrapur, Jharsuguda, Joda, Keonjhar and Rajgangpur. The plan covers industrial centres, urban areas and sites along national and state highways, including 68 wayside amenity centres managed by the state tourism department.
A senior transport department official said that strengthening charging infrastructure is a priority as EV adoption gains momentum. The official stated that the 290 additional stations in urban and industrial centres aim to ensure seamless mobility for users.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited will act as the agency to implement the central scheme. The expansion depends on approval from the Centre and the execution of 170 stations already approved under the first phase of the scheme.
Separately, the Odisha government is developing more than 500 charging stations through a state-led programme. Currently, 24 of these stations are operational in Bhubaneswar, with installations also occurring at truck terminals and Atal bus stands.