Odisha proposes 290 new EV charging stations under PM E-DRIVE scheme
The state has submitted a proposal to the Centre to expand electric vehicle infrastructure across 13 cities and highways.
The Odisha government has submitted a proposal to the Centre to establish 290 additional public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. According to reports from Urban Acres, Business Standard and Odisha Bytes, the plan falls under the second phase of the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme.
The proposed stations are intended for 13 cities, including Rourkela, Talcher, Sambalpur, Paradip, Barbil, Belpahar, Berhampur, Brajarajnagar, Chhatrapur, Jharsuguda, Joda, Keonjhar and Rajgangpur. The plan also includes 68 wayside amenity centres managed by the tourism department and six strategic sites along highways, such as the Paradip-Barbil corridor.
This follows the first phase of the scheme, where 170 stations were approved for seven cities, with implementation currently underway. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has been named the project implementation agency. A team led by BHEL General Manager J K Pattanaik will conduct site surveys to check the feasibility of the locations before final approval.
The state is also running a separate programme to develop more than 500 charging stations. Currently, 24 of these are operational in Bhubaneswar. The government is also installing facilities at truck terminals and Atal bus stands to improve access.
Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena has directed these efforts to strengthen the EV ecosystem. Under the state's Electric Vehicle Policy, financial incentives are provided to buyers to encourage the transition to electric mobility.