BHUBANESWAR: In a move aimed at strengthening electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, the state government is set to expand public EV charging stations to at least 190 new locations across six cities soon. The charging stations will come up in Angul, Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kalinganagar and Puri.
The State Transport Authority (STA) has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) for establishment of public EV charging stations under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE). The proposal was submitted by Transport commissioner Amitabh Thakur during a meeting with director in the MHI Amrendra Kishore Singh and other senior officials.
The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has been designated as the project implementation agency. Singh and BHEL general manager JK Pattanaik along with their teams will conduct site surveys to assess feasibility before final approvals and sanctioning of the proposed charging stations.
According to STA officials, the project is expected to improve charging accessibility, address range anxiety among users and support the growth of a robust EV ecosystem in the state. EV adoption in Odisha has remained modest due to inadequate charging infrastructure. Public charging points are limited and often difficult to locate, posing challenges for long-distance travel.
At present, the state has around 100 public charging stations. EV sales have accounted for only 9-10 per cent of total vehicle sales since 2022-23. Of the 9.10 lakh vehicles sold last year, over 91,000 were electric vehicles.
Thakur said additional charging stations would also be set up in Rourkela and Talcher, which have been identified under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). As per central guidelines, priority in the first phase is being given to state capitals, cities with populations exceeding one million, smart cities and those covered under NCAP.
Angul, Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kalinganagar, Rourkela and Talcher have been classified as non-attainment cities under NCAP, having failed to meet national ambient air quality standards over a prolonged period. In the subsequent phase, charging stations would be extended to 12 cities identified under the State Clean Air Programme, sources said.
Officials said the PM E-DRIVE scheme, notified in September 2024 with an outlay of `10,900 crore, seeks to build a nationwide EV ecosystem aligned with India’s net-zero goals and the vision of self-reliance. Of the total allocation, `2,000 crore has been earmarked for the development of electric vehicle public charging stations (EVPCS).
