Cuttack,July 29 UDN}:: The Government of India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries has approved financial assistance of ₹40 crore, ₹50 lakh and ₹75,740 for the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Odisha under the PM E-DRIVE scheme.
The State Transport Authority (STA) has been designated as the nodal agency for implementing the PM E-DRIVE scheme in Odisha. The Ministry of Heavy Industries has approved the proposal submitted by the STA seeking financial assistance for the development of EV charging infrastructure across the state.
Under the first phase of the project, 170 public EV charging stations will be established at 170 locations across six cities and major urban areas, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Balasore, Kalinganagar and Angul. The project will also provide 688 EV chargers and establish four Battery Swapping Stations (BSS).
To ensure convenient access to EV charging facilities, the proposed charging points will be installed at strategically important locations. These include government office premises, major roads, parking areas, railway stations, hospitals, educational institutions, police establishments and other important public places. The initiative is expected to make EV charging more accessible to residents, commuters and long-distance travellers while supporting the growing adoption of electric vehicles in the state.
More Than 500 EV Charging Stations Planned
In a parallel initiative, the Commerce and Transport Department, through the State Transport Authority (STA) and the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC), has taken steps to establish more than 500 EV charging stations across Odisha in the first phase.
These charging stations are being planned at important urban centres, bus stands, truck terminals and other key transport infrastructure locations. The expansion is aimed at creating a wider and more reliable charging network for electric vehicles across the state.
Under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, the required electric infrastructure and EV charging facilities will be developed at designated locations. The STA will coordinate the implementation of the project and facilitate the necessary infrastructure and equipment. It will also work in coordination with the National Unified Hub developed by the Ministry of Heavy Industries to ensure the effective installation and operation of the charging stations.
Odisha Emerging as a Leading EV State
Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for the approval of the project. He said Odisha has emerged as one of the leading states in the country in terms of the number of electric vehicles.
According to the figures cited by the minister, while EVs account for around 12% of total vehicles across India, the share of electric vehicles in Odisha stands at approximately 17%.
The approval of ₹40.50 crore under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, along with the planned expansion of more than 500 additional charging stations, is expected to significantly strengthen Odisha’s EV ecosystem. The new infrastructure could encourage more people to switch to electric mobility, reduce dependence on conventional fossil fuels and support the state’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable transportation.
The initiative is also expected to benefit electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, private cars, commercial vehicles and public transport operators by improving the availability of charging facilities in major cities and along important transportation corridors.
With the addition of 170 public charging locations, 688 EV chargers and four battery swapping stations in the first phase, Odisha is set to take another major step towards building a robust electric mobility network and accelerating the adoption of clean transportation across the state.
