Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy led an inter-ministerial coordination meeting today with senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and Ministry of Heavy Industries to assess and expedite the rollout of EV charging infrastructure under the PM E-Drive scheme.

The initiative, introduced under the foresighted guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, seeks to establish a national EV-ready framework to facilitate cleaner transportation and lessen India's reliance on fossil fuels.

With an expenditure of Rs. With a budget of 2,000 crore, the PM E-Drive initiative will facilitate the setup of around 72,000 public EV charging stations nationwide. These stations will be strategically positioned along 50 national highway corridors, in high-traffic areas like metropolitan cities, toll plazas, railway stations, airports, fuel stations, and state highways.

Union Minister Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy says, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is on the path to becoming a global model for sustainable transport. The PM E-Drive scheme is a transformative initiative aimed at giving our citizens access to clean, affordable, and convenient mobility options. We are not just building infrastructure; we are building the foundation for energy security and green economic growth.”

The minister also recognized the collaborative involvement of different stakeholders in implementing this initiative. BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) is regarded as the central agency for demand aggregation and for creating a comprehensive digital super app that will function as a unified platform for EV users throughout India.

The application will include live slot reservation, payment processing, charger status updates, and progress dashboards for monitoring nationwide implementation under the PM E-Drive initiative. BHEL will additionally liaise with states and ministries to gather and assess proposals for the installation of chargers.

Minister Kumaraswamy highlighted the significance of cooperative federalism and aligning objectives: “The clean energy shift cannot thrive in isolation. This gathering demonstrates our dedication to functioning as a unified government. Ministries, public sector organizations, and governments are all coordinated to achieve outcomes on the ground. We believe that PM E-Drive will stimulate new industries, create green jobs, and provide smooth electric mobility to all Indians.

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The project's achievements are anticipated to greatly lower India's transport-related carbon emissions, encourage Make in India production in EV infrastructure, and establish the foundation for a net-zero mobility future.